do not dismiss the promise

 that you made me

A sermon about a promise and a God who would do such a thing:

You heard the scripture. The only thing you can say after hearing something like that is, what are we going to do with a God like this?

This God who won’t be practical. This God who seems to think promises are more important than power.

This God who won’t play by our rules. This God we’re, frankly, not sure what to do with…

In fact, before God is finished with Abram, the poor guy will have to change his name. So different does he become. Apparently, Abram wouldn’t recognize the man on the other side of it all. After God’s has had God’s way with him, Abram won’t do anymore. God’s work has changed him completely, from then on out he will be Abraham. 

This is a God we’re not so sure about. 

See, the problem for folks like us is, we have more in common with Abram, than we do with Abraham…

In the scripture for today Abram is going about the business of everyday life. Filling out his life-insurance policy, he looks at the next of kin blank. With a pang of sorrow he begins to write in the name, not of his child, but a slave that was born in his household.

This is the sort of business we occupy most of our time with. The little, practical things of life. We’re a salt of the earth people. We keep our nose close to the grindstone. 

Which is why God’s response to Abram is so, well, off-putting.

God doesn’t console Abram. God doesn’t tell the guy he understands. God doesn’t even ask him to sit down and tell him how he’s feeling. 

Instead, God yanks the guy outside and points up. “You see those.” God barks. “Look at all the stars. You know what, count them. If you are able.”
“If I can do all that, Abram, don’t you think I can stay good on my word?” God puts it to Abram. Then, while Abram is still looking up, God says something unbelievable, “numerous as those stars are, so will your offspring be.”

Abram’s just trying to be practical. And God has him wasting his time counting stars!

Folks, what are we to do with a God like this?

This God who won’t be practical. This God who seems to think counting stars is more important than having your insurance in order.

This God who won’t play by our rules. This God we’re not sure what to do with…

That isn’t all, either. Before the episodes is over, it will get even more audacious. Before Abram regains his balance, God doubles-down!

“This land that you’re camping in,” God gestures. “It’s all going to be your’s.”

That’s too much, of course. Abram can’t just nod-along. Rubbing his eyes as they adjust from looking into the night sky, he asks, “how am I going to know.”

Abram’s a consummate practicalist. If he’s really going to inherit the land, his name ought to be on the deed. Instead of drawing up the paperwork, though, God tells Abram to get a sacrifice ready. 

Why, it’d be like your realtor telling you they’ve got a great scoop. But when you ask them to show it to you, they tell you to meet them at church! 

What on earth are we to do with a God like this?

This God who refuses to be practical. This God who seems to think something like a promise is more important than having the paperwork notarized.

This God who won’t play by our rules. This God we’re not sure what to do with…

There’s more, though. 

Before Abram can even get around to asking about the deed, God adds a rider. “This land will be your’s, Abram. But here’s the thing, you won’t live to occupy it…”

And of course Abram is at a loss for words.

And just as well, because God ends the whole thing with the most audacious act of all.

God. Goes. Through. The. Animals. Sacrificed!
Yeah…

Let me tell how these covenants worked. Person A in making a promise to person B, would make would walk between the animals. In effect, Person A invoked the same fate upon themselves if they didn’t keep up their end of the deal.

God shows Abram, “you will have offspring and you will have land. Impotent though you may be, long dead though you may you be before any of your kin settle it.” 

“It’s all as good as yours, right now. You have it in trust. And if I don’t keep this promise, well then, may I be suffer the same fate as these animals I pass between.”

What are we to do with a God like this?

Consider the solemnity of what God does. Consider the audaciousness of it. That God would risk death for the old man!

This is a God who won’t be reasonable. A God who would risk death instead of just prescribing fertility drugs or registering the deed.

This God won’t play by our rules. This God we’re not sure what to do with…

The truth is, we understand Abram. We get him. We share his concerns. The trouble, though, is God won’t deal with Abram the way we expect. Every time Abram asks God for some perfectly reasonable guarantee, God just raises intensifies that first promise!

We’re not sure what to do with a God like that. 

And of course, neither was Abram. 

That’s why, by the time everything is said and done, Abram name will change. So different has it all made him. 

And in the end, that’s all you can do with a God like this. A God who refuses to be practical. A God who decides to care for you by doing something like making you a promise. Risking death.

God makes a promise to Abram that’s too big to turn into a life insurance policy and too wide to put on a deed. All you can do with a promise like that, is believe it. Trust the one who makes it. 

Which is exactly the way God prefers it. When Abram’s counting the stars, over the moon at the one who made such a promise, God counts that as righteousness. 

This is what God wants. This is God’s will for you. To believe God’s promises. Trust the one who makes them. 

This is righteousness. This is what God’s looking for. 

First God promised a family and the farm, and then God makes a covenant with Abraham. And between those two things, faith happens. Between the promise and ritual, faith is created.

Which is what God reckons as righteous. 

Right now, you stand in the same place as Abram, don’t you?

Only it’s reversed, isn’t it? 

You’ve had the ritual. I already declared that in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, your sins were forgiveness. You need to hear the promise.

So listen up, here’s the promise - and it’s a whopper; you are the evidence of God’s fidelity to Abram. Let me say that again, you are the evidence of God’s fidelity to Abram.

God made an oath to Abram; property and progeny. God took it so seriously God risked death. 

And for you, God died. 

In Jesus Christ God died, so that the promise made to Abram would be fulfilled. That God would make a family for Abram. Not bound by biology, but rather what God has done. By faith, as St. Paul says. A family formed by God’s determination to gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

You are the consequence of all that, God’s fidelity to Abram. You are the consequence of what Jesus has done. 

What was promised to Abram, in Jesus Christ happens to you. In Jesus Christ, God delivers the promise of old through you, to you. In Jesus Christ, you are an offspring of Abraham. In Jesus Christ you are a part of the great history of God’s people. It’s full of twists and turns. Unexpected ups and downs.

But all the while it’s couched in this incredible, unexpected, unstoppable love of God.

For now, yes, we walk by faith. Just like like Abram. 

And, just like Abram you won’t see the promise fulfilled until after you’ve passed on. 

But God has made you this promise. God has even died to deliver this promise to you. To forge you into the family of God. To stay true to Abram.