God's Covenant with Abraham

Abraham's Faith is Accredited to him as Righteousness

Scripture
Genesis 15

Observation
After Abraham defeated four kings and rescued Lot and his family, the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield and your very great reward." I wondered what fear he was addressing, but it appears, by his response in the next verse, that he was afraid that his inheritance would go to his servant. This is after God promised to make of him a great nation and give them the land of the Caananites (ch. 12). It says, however, that this time when God told him that his heir would be his own son, Abraham believed him and the Lord credited his faith to him as righteousness.

An interesting observation for me was the fact that a "thick and dreadful darkness" came over Abram while he was asleep, just before the Lord spoke a prophetic word to him concerning the future of his descendants in Egypt. We don't usually associate the presence of God with thick, dreadful darkness.

Interpretation
We don't know what God has in store for us, or what he will require of us, but Abraham is an illustration of how God takes an interest in our lives and has a plan for our future.
Abraham now and then built an alter after a significant encounter with God. One time he returned to an alter he had built and we read, "There Abram called on the name of the Lord." Apart from this, we don't read that he particularly sought God. Once Abraham interceded for King Abimelech and once for Lot and his family.

God took the initiative to speak to Abraham. We tend to link God's speaking to us to devotional times or times spent in church or in worship. From this passage I conclude that if God has something to say to us, he'll speak to us any time and he doesn't require an invitation. Abraham, the man of faith, interestingly, did not seem to be actively seeking God for his plan for his life. He did however demonstrate a willingness to follow him and this may have been the prerequisite for future revelation.

Prayer
We never read in the Bible that anyone was ever in doubt about what God spoke to them. Lord, is there something wrong with our hearing or our understanding today? Help us to receive a sure word from you concerning our lives. We are so privileged to have the Bible to learn of your character and your ways. But Abraham received specific personal instruction. Was this because he did not have the advantage of the scripture? Should we not expect you to speak to us in the same way today?