Daily Worship

The abundance of God’s promise

Alec Shuttleworth January 24, 2017 0 0

Genesis 15:1-6

After 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." 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?" And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But 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." He 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." And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

It is many years since I have had a good view of the night sky without the light pollution that is so invasive. The brightest light in the sky at night here is the flare of the Grangemouth Oil Refinery.

But you can imagine the old Nomad Abram lying at night wrapped in his cloak and bedding looking up at the stars as the embers of the campfire die down. “look toward heaven and count the stars if you are able to count them…so shall your descendants be.”

 

Strong walls

Solid roof

Easy light to see by

For these blessings we thank you

 

But take us in our mind’s eye

To an open desert

And a rough bed

And a clear sky

 

So we may gaze as Abram did

On the abundance of your promise

 

Gracious God

Thank you

For visions

Of your abundance.