F O O T H O L D

READING

20 DEALING WITH DOUBTS

 

PRAY Help me to learn what you want to teach me today, Lord.

 

READ Genesis 15:121

 

THINK What was God's attitude to Abram's doubts? What does God show

Abram about himself?

 

FOCUS No Christian is immune from doubts. Abram had his doubts, too. God

had promised him that he would have many descendants (12:2), but

Abram could not see how God's promise could be fulfilled. So he

talked to God. Notice in verses 2 and 3 his humility  'Sovereign

Lord'; his realism  'my slave will inherit'; his honesty  he

wanted a son. These are marks of the person who has learned to

pray. God loves us to approach him like this. And he responds. Now

comes the real act of faith. Abram took God at his owed(6); this

is what God loves, for this is what makes us acceptable to him.

Not only does it mean believing that what God says, he will do, it

involves making that belief the basis of the way we live.

But the questioning continues. This time it is not about a son but

about the land (8). The solemn chopping in half of the animals and

birds (9,10) is the way a deeply serious vow used to be made.

Abram fell into a deep sleep and God spoke to him. Notice the

future God promised to Abram's heirs (1316)? Look out for the

fulfilment of this in later readings.

Then when the sun was setting God entered into a covenant with

Abram. Just as with Noah, God took the initiative and made the

promises, telling Abram the territory that would belong to his

descendants. So God took Abram deeper into his purposes. Again

notice how important this idea of 'covenant' between God and his

people is to the themes of the Bible.

PRAY Share your doubts and questions openly, but honestly, with God.

Expect to hear his response.

 


Index - Foot Hold in the Bible

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