Sometimes the most unusual phrases in Scripture pop off the page. I don’t know why the Lord does this to me, but He must like to make me think. I had read the Sunday readings a few times already in preparation for Mass today. I’ve learned that it helps to read them early. Mostly, because for years I had little kids and wrestling with them during church meant that I often didn’t hear much of what was going on. Or I was walking the back foyer and would only get snippets of Scripture. So, old habit still going on now, even though my kids are older.
The first reading from Genesis came from chapter 15 (vs. 5-12, 17-18).
Read it below and see if you can guess what passage the Lord said, “Hey, Barb! This one is for YOU. Check this out and go meditate on it.”
“The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.
He then said him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” “O, Lord God,’ he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep terrifying darkness enveloped him.”
One of my favorite passages in the bible is contained in this reading. I love how God takes Abram outside and tells him to look up at the sky and count the stars, if he can. I always thought this was so cool. Can you imagine God having you look up at a sky filled with stars? It would have been so much easier to see back then, without all our city lights. It must have been an amazing sight. Right? Abram must have thought, “Wow, my descendants will be that many? I can’t even begin to count that high!”
I learned a few years ago though, that isn’t what Abram was probably thinking.
The key words are “if you can.” Why? Because we assume that it is night time when he goes out with the Lord.
Guess what… a few verses later it says that “the sun was about to set.” WAIT! It was DAYLIGHT when He told Abram to count the stars? Ah! “if you can” makes more sense now. Abram couldn’t see them.
But, Abram had seen many a night sky as a shepherd. He just had to remember what the stars looked like. He could think back, close his eyes, and see how the darkness of night was filled with the wonders of God’s celestial lights.
Pretty mind blowing, right? I loved learning this. Doesn’t it make it even more powerful that “Abram put his faith in the Lord…” ?
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Oh, that rings so true. Abram couldn’t see, but he believed. He had faith!
Sorry, I get like a giddy kid when I start to see all the connections from one place in Scripture to another. It just makes me so happy how God ties it all together. Nothing in this book is there on accident.
Now, all of this is great, but you know what? This wasn’t the phrase that God drew me too. I wanted it to be. It’s one I knew and loved. But, my Lord has a sense of humor and He said, “Write about this too…”
“Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them.”
“What? Lord, really? Birds of prey? Carcasses? Yea, I’m not getting any warm feelings here. Seriously, what do you want me to do with this? Okay, if Abram can have faith in you, I guess I can too. Let’s pray about this and see what comes.”
Here is what I got. What do you think? I’d love to know.
* God promised Abram something incredible that he couldn’t see, but was called to believe.
* God does the same with us. We have promises from the Lord for our lives. There are things he wants to do with our lives and we can’t see them right now. We might have some insight because of things from the past. We may remember other times when God provided for us or others. We can step out in faith with Him, knowing that He always fulfills His promises.
** Abram asked God how he would know that part of this promise would happen. How will he know that he will possess this land? God gives him instructions of what to offer to the Lord in sacrifice. He was making a covenant with Abram. And Abram gave Him those gifts that He asked for.
** Sometimes we ask the Lord for proof. We ask how this dream or promise will come to pass. And the Lord lets us know that we must give our gifts to Him. We must make that “covenant” with the Lord where were are in relationship with Him and working with Him. So, we bring our gifts before the Lord.
*** While Abram was waiting on the Lord, birds of prey started to swoop down. He stayed there though and kept the gifts protected.
*** While we wait with Him for the promises to come to fruition, how do we protect the gifts we are offering the Lord? That’s what really hit me today.
Our birds of prey are different, but just as persistent and destructive.
This is what I think our birds look like.
Doubts
Lies
Insecurities
Distractions
Pride
Comparison
Frustrations
Laziness
All of these things can keep us from fulfilling what God has given us to do. They can steal the joy and the perseverance we need to stay the course. But, we need to fight these off and remember to keep our eyes focused on the stars in the sky no matter if it is night or day. They are still there, just as the Lord is.
My Lesson:
What do you think? Leave a comment or message me your thoughts.
XOXO,
Barb
2nd Sunday of Lent Readings (Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18, Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 9:28-36)
Reflections of a Cute Lil Mom 