Doubting Abraham
We label Thomas the doubter but he wasn't the only one. There were many. First of which in the Bible was the man who would be named Abraham.
Genesis 15:1–6 (ESV) After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:7–8 (ESV) And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
You know what I see in this passage? A God who is faithful with his doubters. Abram is wondering how all God's promises could come true. You've been there I'm sure.
Now God doesn't say, "Abram, how dare you! Stop doubting this instant!"
No, God takes him outside to see the stars and then God "cuts a covenant" with Abram. What happens later in the chapter is a typical ancient covenant ceremony between a Suzerain Lord and his subjects. The animals would be cut in half and the two parties would walk between them to signify if either party broke the covenant, they would receive the same fate as the animals. But God doesn't let Abram pass through. He lets Abram sleep and a flaming torch and smoking oven pass through. You could say these are types of Christ - the Light of the World (flaming torch) and the Bread of Life (smoking oven). In other words, God takes full responsibility for His people.
That's a powerful response to what was a weak moment in Abram's life. Here Abram is doubting and questing God's plan. And God's answer is, "I got this, you rest, and even if things go poorly on your part, I've still got it covered."
Of course Abraham's decedents did not keep their covenant with God. But God still sent Jesus to the house of Abraham. Jesus would say, "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” John 8:56 (ESV) This would be that moment Abraham saw Jesus. Through this strange ceremony, Abram beheld the faithful God who would lay down His own life for an often faithless house.
God's answer to a doubting child is always His own faithfulness in spite of our fearfulness. This is our confidence then, not that we will come through for God, but that He will come through for us!
Genesis 15:1–6 (ESV) After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:7–8 (ESV) And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
Two sections of the chapter - two different doubts of Abraham. He has reasons to doubt. He's just fought a hard war and I'm sure he's wondering if there will be another attack.
You know what I see in this passage? A God who is faithful with his doubters. Abram is wondering how all God's promises could come true. You've been there I'm sure.
Now God doesn't say, "Abram, how dare you! Stop doubting this instant!"
No, God takes him outside to see the stars and then God "cuts a covenant" with Abram. What happens later in the chapter is a typical ancient covenant ceremony between a Suzerain Lord and his subjects. The animals would be cut in half and the two parties would walk between them to signify if either party broke the covenant, they would receive the same fate as the animals. But God doesn't let Abram pass through. He lets Abram sleep and a flaming torch and smoking oven pass through. You could say these are types of Christ - the Light of the World (flaming torch) and the Bread of Life (smoking oven). In other words, God takes full responsibility for His people.
That's a powerful response to what was a weak moment in Abram's life. Here Abram is doubting and questing God's plan. And God's answer is, "I got this, you rest, and even if things go poorly on your part, I've still got it covered."
Of course Abraham's decedents did not keep their covenant with God. But God still sent Jesus to the house of Abraham. Jesus would say, "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” John 8:56 (ESV) This would be that moment Abraham saw Jesus. Through this strange ceremony, Abram beheld the faithful God who would lay down His own life for an often faithless house.
God's answer to a doubting child is always His own faithfulness in spite of our fearfulness. This is our confidence then, not that we will come through for God, but that He will come through for us!
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