He started it!

Tuesday, February 19,                   Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Virginia Reynolds

My parents never really set huge expectations for my sister and me growing up—at least not written or spoken expectations. Their expectations for us were more or less understood.

When we were younger, we knew we needed to make good grades in school and that we needed to be kind to others, including each other. We needed to have every Barbie item removed from the den floor before the end of the day. We did as they asked (well, most of the time), but more importantly we had faith in our parents, faith that they would lead us in the right direction. They made that promise to us and to each other.

The promises our parents made to us couldn’t have been easy to keep. Making tuition payments, hearing for the 172th time that “she started it,” stepping on that little pink high heel in bare feet – I’m sure it got old. But even though we weren’t perfect and didn’t always meet their expectations, they continued to fulfill their promises while we remained faithful to them.

This passage in Genesis 15 tells of the promise (or covenant) Abraham makes with the Father. To the older and childless Abraham and Sarah, God not only promises them a child but says, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them. ... So shall your offspring be.” Abraham believed God. God furthers the covenant by giving land to his descendants. In return, Abraham is expected to remain faithful to God, and he does.

When God made this covenant with Abraham, He did so in dramatic fashion. Even though it would be helpful, God doesn’t reveal His promises to us as a “smoking firepot” today. We have to look at little harder and listen a little more closely to find what He has in store for us, all while remaining faithful. And we should be faithful. After all, He started it!

Prayer: Father God, we know we don’t always meet your expectations. Help us to look harder and listen more closely so that we can see and hear what you have in store for us. Help us to remain faithful as we wait. Amen.

Daily Challenge: What can you do to remind God and yourself of your faithfulness to Him?