旧约人物：亚伯拉罕--继续凭信心等候
创世记十五章1至6节
1这事以后，耶和华在异象中有话对亚伯兰说：亚伯兰，你不要惧怕！我是你的盾牌，必大大地赏赐你。
2亚伯兰说：主耶和华阿，我既无子，你还赐我甚么呢？并且要承受我家业的是大马士革人以利以谢。
3亚伯兰又说：你没有给我儿子；那生在我家中的人就是我的后嗣。
4耶和华又有话对他说：这人必不成为你的后嗣；你本身所生的才成为你的后嗣。
5于是领他走到外边，说：你向天观看，数算众星，能数得过来么？又对他说：你的后裔将要如此。
6亚伯兰信耶和华，耶和华就以此为他的义。
信息分享
这也许就是我们在十五章开始时所读到的，发生在亚伯拉罕身上的问题。第十四章告诉我们，亚伯拉罕的侄儿罗得被北面的五王掳走；亚伯拉罕得知此事，便马上追赶，将侄儿和被掳掠的一切财物夺回来（十四10-12）。
亚伯拉罕来回至少走了六百至七百公里路，还要在夜间与敌人争战。回到家中，虽然成功救回侄儿，但显然身心疲累；不要忘记，他当时已八十多岁。
神看见这一切，一如既往地以慈父的温柔安慰他。祂对亚伯拉罕说：「你不要惧怕！我是你的盾牌，必大大地赏赐你。」
但亚伯拉罕却道出他的困扰和懊丧：「主啊，你曾应许赐我后裔，可是，我现在连一个儿子也没有。我唯一的承继人，只有我的仆人以利以谢。」
神对他说：「不，以利以谢并非你的承继人，你必有儿子。你走出屋外看看，你能够数算天上星星的数目吗？你的后裔也会如此繁多。」
神先后三次要亚伯拉罕想像他繁多的后裔，要他数算天上的星星、地上的尘土，甚至海边的沙。对这个仍未有子嗣的老人，那是怎样的一幅家庭蓝图啊！
亚伯拉罕怎样回应神呢？第6节说得很清楚：「亚伯拉罕信耶和华，耶和华就以此为他的义。」
「义」就是得以站在神的面前，得蒙神的接纳。亚伯拉罕相信神，神便以此为他的义。
紧记：
信心就是接受神的话，并遵照神的话而行。
OLD TESTAMENT HEROES: ABRAHAM - Still Waiting In Faith
Genesis 15:1-6
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Message
It would seem this could have been Abraham's problem as chapter 15 begins. If you like to look back at chapter 14, you will see the story of Lot's capture by the northern kings. Abraham's immediate reaction was to go after the captors and bring back Lot and his possessions. (14:10-12)
Abraham travelled at least 600 to 700 km round trip. It included a night attack on the enemy. Now he is home again, successful but obviously tired. Remember he was over 80 years of age.
God must have seen this and with His usual tender care of His child, He said, 'Do not be afraid, Abraham. I am your shield and your very great reward.'
Yet Abraham voiced his problem and his discouragement. 'O Lord, you speak as if I am to have an extended family. But so far you have not given me even one child to carry on my name. The only heir I have is my servant, Eliezer.'
God said, 'No, Eliezer is not your heir. Your own natural son will be. Come outside a minute. Can you count the stars I have made? You can't. That will be the same with your descendants.'
Three times God challenged Abraham to think of his ultimate family. Once God said to count the stars, secondly to count the dust of the earth, and thirdly to count the sand on the seashore. What a family for a childless old man!
What was Abraham's reply to God? Verse 9 says it so plainly, 'Abraham believed God and he credited it to Him as righteousness.'
Righteousness is the right to able to stand before God and be accepted by Him. Abraham accepted what God had said. He believed it and God in turn accepted him because of his faith.
REMEMBER: Faith is taking God at His Word and acting accordingly.