Life issues in Genesis 15

When Genesis 15 opens, Abram faces a moment of deep uncertainty. 

God promised him descendants, land, and a savior — yet none have materialized. 

Sarah remains unable to conceive, and Abram's inheritance seems destined for his servant Eleazar. 

His heart cries out: "God, what are you doing? You've given me no offspring!"

But notice something beautiful here — Abram's doubt doesn't reflect weak faith, but rather a faith strong enough to wrestle honestly with God. 

Doubt isn't the absence of faith; it's being "double-minded" — believing God's promise while simultaneously seeing a reality that doesn't match.

We can feel like this, too — when illness lingers, when brokenness remains — we believe God's promises, yet our pain speaks a different story.

God meets Abram's doubt not with rebuke but with a profound act of grace and reassurance. 

He takes him outside to look at the stars, promising descendants too numerous to count. 

But God does more—He provides something tangible. 

Through an ancient covenant ceremony, where normally both parties would walk between cut up animals, only God passes through as a smoking fire pot and flaming torch. 

God essentially says: "These promises rest entirely on My shoulders. I will carry this or this is what will happen to me."

God still uses tangible means to bring his promises to us — through His Word joined to physical elements in the sacraments — at the communion rail and in the waters of baptism. 

Like Abram, we can trust that God is working, your story can only end one way—the way He promised.

Contributor Michelle Bauman is the Director of Y4Life.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.

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