On Prayer (Gen 15:1)

In our prayers we are encouraged to do many things.  To adore God, to be thankful to God, to petition God for our needs, to intercede on behalf of others to God, to do spiritual warfare with God.  In Gen 15, Abram does none of those things.  The chapter begins, “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward.” – Gen 15:1

Abram was afraid.  Exactly why he was afraid we are not told – though it might be inferred from the rest of the conversation that he thought he’d see the end of his days without an heir.  Certainly the end of his days might be on his mind, because he had gone to war and defeated the four kings (who had themselves just defeated 5 kings) – and that with only 318 men.  It must have been a huge risk to take, and from it we can also learn that Abram was a man of courage, conviction and loyalty.  Nevertheless, this particular night he is afraid.  Who knows – perhaps he looked up at the stars and felt himself to be so very insignificant – so many of them, only one of him!  Perhaps as he thought about his rescue of Lot he was reminded that Lot had kids and he did not, even though he was older than Lot.  Maybe he was just thinking about how close he just came to exiting the world without so much as a single son to remember him.  Exactly what was running through his mind we do not know.  What we do know is that here he finds himself once again in conversation with God, and the first thing God addresses is Abram’s fear.   Intriguing, because Abram hasn’t yet told the Lord of that fear.  But the Lord who can answer us before we call knows exactly what the foremost thing on our mind actually is.  There is no point in covering it up, and God’s grace to us is such that even the courtesy of righteous worship for His character can be dismissed in those vulnerable moments.  Here the Word invites us in to a very personal conversation – one that just also happens to have worldwide implications.

Buoyed by God’s recognition of his fear, Abram begins his part of the conversation with a pointed observation – the reason for his fear.  Four times in his first two sentences he notes that he is without a son.  “But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”  At this point one would assume that Abram would give God a chance to respond.  But with his fear unbottled, Abram cannot hold back. “And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” (Gen 15:2-3).  In response, the Lord directly refutes that fear.  He speaks against it, speaks truth instead of it, and then gives Abram an object lesson that will remind him of that truth every single night for the rest of his life.  The Word records all of it, and then this statement: “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Gen 15:6).   An intensely personal conversation about a private fear, and the result of that conversation Abram’s faith is realized as righteousness!   Most significantly, on this statement is the salvation of all Gentiles founded.  Indeed, the entire reformation, and all Protestant denominations. 

You may think you have a secret fear.  A private fear that you dare not speak about.  But it eats at you, because it’s a very real fear.  Something you think about a lot.  God knows about that fear.  If you speak to Him, you just might find that it is one of the most meaningful experiences of your entire life.  Why, it may even change other’s lives someday.  God is our shield.  Our very great reward.  Amen.