07 Sep Abraham’s Night Skies

He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” - Genesis 15:5

Summer skies are fascinating. Each day they bring a new hue and give a new excitement. Since my childhood, sky-watching has always been a pleasurable experience to me. One particular summer evening at my home in Madurai, I went to the terrace to watch the sunset. The tropical sun gradually withdrew and in the clear and cloudless sky I could see the night crawl in. As minutes passed, the moon and the stars began to light up the sky more and more. With my bare eyes I began counting the stars in the sky. Obviously, it was a vain attempt. Engrossed in the amazing perfection of the shimmering stars and the gleaming moon; I was reminded of God’s promise to Abraham that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

I began to ponder on – what were night skies for Abraham? Every time Abraham looked at the night sky and the countless stars, what did he feel? What did the father of many nations experience when he watched the stars?

The writers of the Bible have recurrently underscored the faith of Abraham. In his letter to the Romans, Paul draws our attention again to Abraham’s fervent faith that was credited to him as righteousness. When everything said otherwise, Abraham stood on the faithfulness of God, unwavering, soaring in his faith, fully persuaded of the power of God (Romans 4:20,21). In the right time, according to the will of God, Abraham received God’s promise. Even on cloudy nights, Abraham knew that the stars stood there shinning and God would give him what He had promised for him.

The author of Hebrews reviews the faith of the men of God; he elucidates Abraham’s faith too. What amazes me is that Abraham had so much possession (together with Lot the land couldn’t bear them!). Yet, he moved from one camp to the other devoid of keeping focused on the worldly things.  His eyes were constantly fixed on the bigger prize- the Kingdom of God. He was not the beneficiary of God’s promise, but he welcomed God’s blessings from a distance, fully aware of his state (Hebrews 11:13). And as Abraham looked up at the night sky, he was reminded of the goodness of God and pressed on.

God assures us day after day of His goodness, mercy and love, just like He did in the life of Abraham. Whatever your circumstances are, just look up at the night sky and look at the beautiful world created by God and be assured that He is faithful.