Genesis 15-17

“Fear not, Abram, I am your shield” (15:1). God made a covenant with Abram to give him descendants, and God committed himself to Abram through a ritual sacrifice.  While Abram “believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness,” he later wavered in his faith as he and Sarah use the servant Hagar as a surrogate. Despite their failure, God didn’t abandon them; he even blessed Hagar and her son. 

Though we often struggle, God’s commitment to us never changes.  God is faithful when we are not. Even after Abram’s failure, God keeps his promise and calls Abram, “Abraham – Father of the multitude” (17:5).