Fear Not

Day sixty-nine

There are people in my life that are in need of some extra blessings that come from prayer, so my prayer this morning was focused on them.  I am grateful that they feel comfortable asking me to include them in my prayer and for their faith in me.  I asked the Lord to please bless them with all they need to get through these trails and to provide a way for those around them to support them through this time.  I also asked that they might lean on the Lord and allow Him to ease their burdens.

I am studying Genesis 15:1-6 and Joseph Smith Translation Genesis 15:9-12.

"After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (v1)

What did Abram have to fear?  He has money, servants, he has survived a battle where several kings were involved to retrieve Lot, and he has earned the respect of the kings.  He has even had a visit from the great high priest Melchizedek who blessed him.  Life would appear pretty good for Abram, but something was missing, posterity and a land of inheritance.  The Lord had promised Abram a great posterity and a land for them to inherit, yet here he is with no children, and the chances of that happening appear to be getting slimmer as he is not getting younger, but older, and he does not have the land necessary for such a posterity.

Abram approaches the Lord with two questions: Since I have no children, am I to leave my inheritance to a servant in my home?(vv 2-3) and how wilt though give me this land for an everlasting inheritance? (JST Gen 15:9-12).   Some people chastise Abram for these questions thinking that he is asking due to a lack of faith.  I see it as an opportunity to seek the Lord's guidance. Abram has not given us any reason to doubt his faithfulness, he is not doubting God, he is trying to figure how God's plan will come together.

Because of his faith the Lord tells Abram that he will have his own children, and then he reassures him that the promises He made will be fulfilled by comparing the number of Abram's future posterity to that of the stars (vv4-5).  As for the land issue, the Lord helps Abram understand that this too will come to pass, but all in the Lord's time (JST-Gen 15:10-11).

In the Genesis version it states: " And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (v 6).

The JST Genesis 15:12 gives us a few more details:  "And it came to pass, that Abram looked forth and saw the days of the Son of Man, and was glad, and his soul found rest, and he believed in the Lord; and the Lord counted it unto him for righteousness"

I like the JST, it is what made me see these verses in the light of Abram seeking guidance instead of a lack of faith.  It was Abram's righteousness that led God to show him such things. Because of his faith, Abram had an experience that not only increased his faith (he believed), but he also found gladness and peace (his soul found rest). 

What did I learn from this story?

I need to have faith and believe in the promises of the Lord even when it seems very unlikely (with God all things are possible, Matt 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27).

When I am faithful the Lord will bless me (I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say, D&C 82:10).

I don't need to worry so much (Fear not, Genesis 15:1)

I need to take into account the Lord's time (But all things must come to pass in their time, D&C 64:32)

It is through the Lord I will find happiness and peace (and was glad, and his soul found rest, JST Gen. 15:12)

It is interesting that this lesson should come today.  The Lord has been using me a lot in His work lately.  There are times when I can't seem to put the whole picture together and I worry about the details.  I find myself turning more to the Lord asking him for guidance, like Abram, because I have a desire to do what is right, but I don't understand the steps to get there.  I realized that like Abram, I am hearing the Lord's voice, just in a different way, through the scriptures.  And, although I did not have a vision of Jesus Christ, through this story I have found a better perspective that gives me some gladness and peace. What a great experience for me to see the timing of the Lord at work!