Genesis 15:1-21

Abram was totally human. Like all humans he was imperfect. Sometimes he was childish. When he didn’t get what he wanted he became so frustrated that he couldn’t see what he had. He wanted a child. He wanted it so badly that he could not recognize the truth when God said “I’m your great reward”. He did not value anything God had done for him or could do for him. He did not value anything God had given him or could give him. After all God had not given him what you really wanted. He did not have a child.  God had promised he would be a great nation, but had not done what was necessary to make it happen.

Abram decides to take things into his own hands. He is going to follow an eastern practice of adopting into his family a favorite servant. He tells God that Eliezer of Damascus will inherit his estate. God sets Abram straight. God tells him that a son of his own flesh and blood would be his heir. Once again Abram responded with belief.

Abram’s faith was imperfect, however it was enough to establish and maintain a right relationship with God. Immediately after believing God would give him a son, he questioned God about something else. How could he know God was telling the truth about his possessing the land? God was patient and answered his question in a vision. Abram is not an example of perfect faith. He is an example of God responding to imperfect faith. 

God knows we are childish. He knows we have doubts. He knows we want what we want and we want it right now. He knows we feel inadequate. He knows we become frustrated. He knows we try to fix things without his help. He knows we are sometimes ungrateful. God also knows that if we trust Him, He will be our great reward. He rewards our faith by leading us into Christian maturity. Christians are not perfect, but they are being perfected.