Genesis 15:1-6 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 15:1-6 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 15After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."
Verse 2But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" Verse 3And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." Verse 4But the word of the Lord came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." Verse 5He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." Verse 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Devotion
Father Abraham had many sons, and many sons had Father Abraham... I have been hearing these are words a lot lately. They are part of one of my five-year-old daughter Allison's current favorite songs. Every time I hear her sing that song, I reflect on the joys of having her as a daughter, even though, biologically, she is not my own. Instead, she became my daughter based on vows that I proclaimed to her as I married her mother, Jenie, and promised to treat her as my own.
Abram's hearing of the promise was focused only on his obtaining a biological heir. However, God had something greater in store, a promise that makes us all brothers and sisters of the same covenant. With great joy God has made this covenant with us all and proclaimed it broadly with a vow of love from the cross. As Allison's song puts it, "I am one of them, and so are you."
Prayer
Heavenly Creator, we give you thanks for showing us your love and grace. We pray that you help us all to see the ways that you share your love for the whole of your creation. Into Christ we pray. Amen.