And Abram’s reward for defeating the Four kings when he returned home? God visited him in a vision, not just with a proclamation, but with a dialogue.
God said: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”
I’m sure at this point “shield” takes on a more vivid meaning after the blood of the battle!
Abram replied: “O Sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus? Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!”
Translated: “Promises, promises – let’s see some action.” Abram is growing weary waiting, looking, anticipating in faith, for God to act. Do you ever feel that way?
God replied: “This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
God must have seen Abram’s continued skepticism as, “The Lord took him outside and said, ‘Gaze into the sky and count the stars—if you are able to count them! So will your descendants be.'”
Then, “Abram believed.”
God goes on to give him more details about the promise after Abram believed, but first Abram needed a vision.
Sometimes all we need to obey is God clicking his fingers. We are ready and eager, filled with faith. We’ll pick up and go anywhere.
Sometimes, we are weary of the battle, the wanderings, seeing our own sin and the sin of others. We question, even doubt, the promise we so much wanted to believe in.
Dialogue is the basis for relationship. It’s the give and take. It’s the meeting in the middle. It’s the meeting of each other’s needs.
That’s when God, in his grace, dialogues with us. He woes us with his presence. He does not judge us for our limited faith, our doubts. Instead, he answers us with his truth, and leads us by the hand to remind us of his character.
He fills our heart with vision.
