Genesis 15:5 states – He took them outside and said, “Look up to the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then He said, “So shall your offspring be.”
This is God speaking to Abram (later to be Abraham) in a vision that since he is so blameless, righteous and faithful that God is willing to grant Abram the one thing that he desires most – a child. So, because of Abram being of this nature, God blessed him.
Now you have to understand, Abram was 99 years old, Sarai was 89 at the time. So picture yourself, walking down the road, at well passed middle age and the Lord appears and tells you that you and your wife are going to have a child. What would you do? Be shocked? Faint? Cry? Scream? No – Abram laughs! He laughs at what God has just told him!
Now, I know that I have had some inappropriate laughter at times. Those times people fall on the ice or Tommy slips on toilet paper in the youth room or someone rips their pants or at an unfortunate real name, but even I would think better than to laugh at what God has just told me – or I would at least like to think I would.
Now, I wonder…was he laughing at God, at what God told him or was Abram so filled with joy that this is the way he chooses to express it? I don’t know. I do know that becuase of this moment Abraham winds up naming his son Isaac, which means”he laughs”.
Remember, by the time Abraham and Sarah have this child (I know, Sarah had the baby), Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90! I’m just picturing Willard Scott on the Today Show sending out 100 warm birthday wishes from Smucker’s new dad Abraham and sending him a year supply of Pampers and maybe Depends.
Now, we’re having fun with this, but remember, why would God do this for Abraham? Because he is faithful, blameless and obedient.
What has God done for Abraham’s diligence? He has blessed him for it. Blessed him? What is that or what might that mean?
A blessing is something that can have so many different meanings. It can be something we take for granted. It can be the gifts that we receive. It can be the struggles that we encounter that help us grow and become stronger. It can be good health or a loved one there for us. A blessing can change and morph with every situation in life. What might be a blessing for one may not be for another.
Whatever your definition is of a blessing, it is always provided from God. All truth and good come from God.
What is a blessing in your life? What/Who do you take for granted everyday? How has God blessed you? Even more importantly, how can you be a blessing to someone else today?
Amen
