Monday, October 17, 2011

Abraham looking at the starry sky


The brilliant night sky above Ber Sheba in the story about the Covenant of Abraham is not a cold distant and strange place or the deterministic Clockwork of Astrology - instead, it is a great and unforgettable promise by the One who has made it. A promise to him and to the humanity.


After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
   “Do not be afraid, Abram.
   I am your shield,
   your very great reward”
 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 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.”
 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:1-6 NISV 


God fulfilled the promise and the childless old couple became patriarch and matriarch of a powerful tribe. Later on Moses notes - without directly referring to the promise to Abraham

"The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude."
Deut 1:10 KJV

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