Belief: The Right Response to God's Word

Insights from Gen 15:1-6

• God pursues us (v1). God initiated the conversation with Abram.
• God speaks to us (v1). “The word of the LORD came to Abram….”
• God’s people do not need to fear—“Do not be afraid” (v1). While God is most worthy to be feared, God is for us and not against us if we follow Him and are covered by the blood of Jesus by His grace. Therefore whatever we are facing we can do so without fear knowing He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut 31:6).
• God protects us (v1). He is our shield. “If God is for us who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).
• God provides for us (v1). He provides for our physical needs (Matt 6:25-34) and our spiritual needs (Eph 1:3).
• God’s provision in exceedingly abundant (v1). He gives us “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20).
• God is not afraid of our complaints or questioning (v2-3). The Psalmists are frequently questioning, complaining, or crying out to God in desperation like Ps 22:1.
• God answers our complaints (v4). “This man will not be your heir…” (Gen 15:4).
• God speaks in ways we can understand (v5). “Now look at the heavens and count the stars if you are able to count them….So shall your offspring be” (Gen 15:5).
• God’s people are to believe and trust in God, the only one worthy of our trust (v6).
• God’s people are not to trust in man (v6). Most of the uses of the Hebrew word he’emin, meaning believe or trust, throughout the Old Testament are negative due to people putting their trust in people or things that are not able to be trusted.
• The right response and right conduct, which is the meaning of righteousness, to God’s word is belief (v6).