“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.” Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Promises Promises
On Lent 1C, I asked the question “What is Authority?” Today I ask the question “What is a Promise?” Now, the strict definition of a promise is a word given now that binds the maker of the promise to actions or relationships maintained into the future. Making a promise, however, can be tricky business. So much about the times and the events when the promise is made can change. The context might change. The individuals or circumstances upon which the promise is made can change. As such, the original promise may need to be reconfigured or changed completely. The promise G-d makes with Abram is a promise where G-d goes to great lengths to place G-d’s claim on the promise, and on Abram as well. G-d’s love is not just set upon some kind of a promissory note—G-d’s love and presence is bound to G-d’s pledge and promise. In other words, when G-d “Cuts a deal”—G-d keeps G-d’s word. G-d’s promises of love and fidelity are not conditional—they are not temporary—they are unconditional and eternal.
G-d is not going to renege on a promise.
But, the bible is filled with many stories where people were unfaithful—where they lied and deceived—where people have fallen short of the love, faith and fiduciary responsibilities we are to hold toward G-d. And those stories begin with people like Jacob and Esau—and then Jacob and his uncle Laban—then on to the Israelites. They are relationships that are filled with lies, deceit, greed, and selfish ambition. Jacob steals his brother’s birth-right. Jacob is deceived by Laban to marry the wrong sister. Jacob’s sons sell one of their own to Ishmaelites. G-d seemingly forgets about the Israelites while they are slaves in Egypt only to have Moses rescue them and lead them into the wilderness toward the Promised Land. All the while, each one of these people have a tendency toward more disobedience than obedience. They broke more promises than they kept.
And yet, G-d remains faithful and we can trace this fidelity back to Abram—whose faith in G-d and G-d’s promises is reckoned to him as righteousness. Abram—the one of doubt and faith. Abram—the one of questions and trust. This is the one G-d binds G-d’s self to for perpetuity. The descendants of Abram, soon to be named Abraham, well three religions can trace their lineage back to him. There is good news then in this reality—it means that G-d welcomes our questions—our searching doubts—and our cries of “G-d now what?” and “G-d, I thought you promised?” And G-d is open to those questions—as such you and I need to be open to uncomfortable answers to these questions.
You see G-d promises to be with us for eternity—the same G-d who binds G-d’s self to us in our baptisms—G-d does not leave us, but G-d also does not promise us a Rose Garden. To struggle in our relationship with G-d is a Lenten experience—it means we are to wander in our faith struggling with the mysteries of G-d—but also the promises of G-d—and the purposes of G-d for our lives. For, this is the G-d of the Cross—a paradoxical revelation that reminds us the great length G-d went to save us—through G-d’s Son—nailed to a cross.
Pastor Dave
Lutheran Schreff 