How does Abram's question in Genesis 15:2 reflect his faith journey? Setting the Scene • Years have passed since God’s first promise in Genesis 12:2 – “I will make you into a great nation.” • Abram has followed God out of Ur (Genesis 12:4), traveled through Canaan, endured famine in Egypt, and just rescued Lot from four kings (Genesis 14). • Yet the promise of offspring remains unfulfilled, and Abram is now about 80-plus years old (cf. Genesis 12:4; 16:16). Abram’s Question in His Own Words “Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” (Genesis 15:2) Why the Question Reveals a Growing Faith • He addresses God as “Lord GOD” (Adonai Yahweh) – A title of submission: Abram recognizes God’s sovereign authority. – A title of relationship: he speaks personally to the covenant-making LORD. • He speaks openly, not rebelliously – Honest lament shows intimacy; Abram knows God can handle his confusion (cf. Psalm 62:8). – Faith is not the absence of questions but trusting God enough to voice them. • He remembers the promise rather than abandoning it – By mentioning childlessness, Abram is actually clinging to the original word (Genesis 12:2; 13:16). – Doubt would ignore or dismiss the promise; faith wrestles to understand it. • He brings practical reality to God – “Eliezer of Damascus” is a household servant; Near-Eastern custom allowed adoption of a trusted steward as heir. – Abram’s practical plan shows he still expects God to act within real life, not in abstract theory. Tension Between Promise and Circumstance • Physical impossibility: both he and Sarai are aging (Genesis 17:17). • Cultural pressure: legacy and lineage defined identity and security. • Visible evidence: no child, only a servant-heir. This tension does not negate faith; it stretches it. Romans 4:18 later describes Abram: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…” How God Uses the Question to Advance Abram’s Faith 1. Clarification – God reaffirms: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is from your own body will be your heir” (Genesis 15:4). 2. Expansion – He shows the night sky: “Count the stars… So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5). 3. Confirmation – Abram believes, “and the LORD credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). 4. Covenant – The very question leads to the formal covenant ceremony (Genesis 15:9-21), anchoring the promise in blood and oath. Markers of Progress in Abram’s Faith Journey • From silent obedience (Genesis 12) to dialogue (Genesis 15). • From general promise (“a great nation”) to specific detail (a biological son). • From personal insecurity to covenant assurance. • From human workaround (Eliezer) to God’s miraculous provision (Isaac, Genesis 21:1-3). • Hebrews 11:8-12 celebrates this trajectory, noting Sarah’s conception “since she considered Him faithful who had promised” (v. 11). Takeaways for Today’s Believers • Faith asks real questions while anchoring in revealed truth. • Delay is not denial; God’s timing refines trust. • God welcomes honest dialogue, then answers with deeper revelation. • The greater the impossibility, the clearer God’s power and faithfulness shine (Ephesians 3:20). Abram’s question in Genesis 15:2 is not a sign of weak faith but a milestone—proof that his relationship with God had matured from silent following to candid conversation grounded in covenant confidence. |
    |