This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1
Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:5-6. NIV
Advent Chronicles are first person retelling of characters in the Christ story. I will be reposting last year’s Advent Chronicles throughout the Advent season.
The grand story unfolds in the foreshadowing of the coming Messiah with the condemnation of the serpent who deceived Eve. A child would crush the serpent’s head and the he would bruise the heel of Eve’s offspring.
With the introduction of Abraham in Genesis 12, his lineage is identified as the one to watch for the coming Messiah. God said that all nations would be blessed through Abram’s offspring. Let’s listen to Abram’s encounter with God from the event found in Genesis 15. Yah is a shortened form for Yahweh which is Hebrew for God (big G).
Abram Conversing With Yah
Yah, you have told me to count the stars, there are so many. I already have a son by my wife’s maiden. He is handsome and strong. I love him, for he even looks like me. But you said to me, “No, he is not the heir to the promise which you have spoken repeatedly to me.”
So, I am to believe that my wife who is nearly 90, although we are not supposed to mention age of women, will have a child? I only mention her age because she is beyond the time of women for child bearing. Yet you want me to believe that we will together have the joy of a son?
I am standing alone here in the desert conversing with the Maker of heaven and earth. You remind me once again that through my offspring (which I still do not possess) all of the nations of the world will be blessed. Who am I that You would even take notice of me? How will anyone great come from me, when I don’t even have a son to carry on my name? Why should you be faithful to my descendants for generations?
Asking me to count stars when You know I don’t even have one child is a cruel thing to ask me to do. Do you even know how many stars are in the sky? Oh, you do. You say you have given them all a name? Yah that is so many. How great and unfathomable you are.
As I am looking at all of the stars in the sky, one seems brighter than all of the others, is this the one to represent my son? No, you say. “That one represents a child which will come through you for all of the world to take notice”, says Yah. He will be a very special son.
“Your descendants will be as many as the stars in the sky you are looking at”, Yah reminds me again. But Yah, when will this happen? Actually it really doesn’t matter if I know the when and the how. I trust you. I have followed you thus far in my life and you have always been faithful to me. There is a tug in my heart to give myself completely to you once again. I am your servant for all time.
Yah responds, “Your faith is pleasing to Me. I indeed see your heart and credit you as righteous. From this seed of faith your offspring will multiply like the grains of sand upon the earth. Blessed are those who trust in Me and they will be a blessing.”
I have laid out the sacrifices as you have suggested. I am waiting for you to receive the honor of my obedience to follow your ways. I am sorry for growing weary.
Abram falls into a deep sleep and Yah walks among the sacrifice to seal the covenant with Abram. Through the shedding of blood the covenant of life is made. Jesus is the messiah coming from the seed of Abram who brings life to all of the world.
Before Abram was the father of Isaac, he was the father of faith. Trusting God when he had no way to fulfill the promise in his own efforts, allowed him to become the father of faith. He believed God and we are blessed through his life, his offspring (Jesus) and his faith.
May you take the time during the Advent season to evaluate your trust in God’s words to you specifically. Have you given him your heart? Have you learned to walk daily in believing trust to him? Do you understand the blessings afforded to Abram are yours also because of Jesus?
May you receive the blessings which God intended for the nations when He spoke over Abram. You too are blessed to be a blessing.
Blessings Love y’all