In The Dark
Genesis 15:1
1 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.
Has anyone in here ever been afraid or fearful?
Have you ever felt like you have been in the dark and you did not know what was going to happen?
You did not know where to go because you could not see because of how dark the situation looked.
What we need to realize is that the darkness is God’s secret place.
Ps 18:11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
Sometimes I might not know the result of what is going to happen but the good news is God does.
In our opening text, the Word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision.
This presents one of four ways, which God spoke to individuals in the Old Testament.
Numbers 12:6-8
Nu 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
1. He spoke in visions.
2. He spoke in dreams.
3. He revealed Himself by speaking directly to the Prophets, mouth to mouth.
4. He spoke through the Word.
God was telling Abraham in verse one “to fear not”.
This shows that fear was present, he was afraid that enemies would kill him before the great promise of the Lord took place in His life.
God told Abraham “I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward”.
God was telling Abraham that he was eyeing the promise too much instead of the giver of the promise.
The Lord is always to be looked at as the reward, and then the promise is surely to come.
Too often, we get our eyes on the gift instead of the giver.
Genesis 15:2-3
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
Abraham and Sarah would try to take things into their own hands to bring forth the promises of God.
They might have felt they were in the dark so they were going to do whatever it took to bring forth God’s Word.
Genesis 15:4-5
Ge 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Sarah and Abraham would try to take things into their own hands, when God makes a promise you can take it to the bank.
Abraham was worried about one son, and the Lord tells him his seed shall be as the stars of Heaven for a multitude and so it is.
Genesis 15:6
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Abraham exercised faith believing what the Lord told him.
God counted it to him for righteousness.
This is one of the most important Scriptures in the entirety of the Word of God.
In this simple term, “Abraham believed the Lord.”
We find here the meaning of Justification by faith; Abraham was saved by grace through faith not by his good works.
There is no other way of salvation anywhere in the Bible.
Abraham still had to face the trials that life would throw at him, but with God, he would make it through.
I have entitled this today: “In The Dark”
8-17-04
I dreamed that I was in the dark. I had a feeling of hoplessness. I was afraid. All of a sudden, God’s presence came upon me. I started to shout, “Jesus”. I no longer felt hopeless. I was not afraid to be in the dark. I knew that no matter what, God was with me. I woke up and the presence of God was all around the room.
Interpretation
Sometimes we are in the dark, and we feel hopeless.
Sometimes if we are honest, we are even afraid of situations that arise in our lives.
In the dream, I was afraid. All of a sudden, God’s presence came upon me. I started to shout, “Jesus”. I no longer felt hopeless.
I was no longer afraid to be in the dark.
I knew that no matter what, God was with me. I woke up and the presence of God was all around the room.
Am 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
When we are in the dark and we do not know what is happening, think about Amos 3:7. Surely, the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
We live in a prohetic generation and God’s Word has not changed. What He has done, He will do again.
God had already shown Abraham what was going to happen before it did.
Abraham chose to take matters into their own hands.
De 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The Word says that Abraham believed God but in chapter 16, we see where he tried to make God’s Word happen.
What I am trying to say is that Abraham was flesh and blood, he messed up from time to time, yet the promises of God were yea and amen.
The promises were going to happen!
Do you feel as if you are in the dark?
Do you feel hopeless and afraid?
Fear not, God is your shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Maybe what we need to do is start shouting to Jesus!
Someone shout “Jesus!”
I no longer felt hopeless.
In the dream I was no longer afraid to be in the dark.
Church, fear not, God has your back!
2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
Ps 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Are you in the dark today?
Are there situations going on that you do not understand?
Are you worried or afraid?
Cry out to Jesus, He will help you in your time of darkness.
God knew Abraham was not perfect but blessed him.
God knows that, from time to time, we mess up and try to do things our own way, we will fail, but Jesus is still there waiting for us to trust Him.
Are you afraid of what you see?
2Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
God is going to bring you out of the desert that you are in, just start believing that with Him all things are possible.
There have been times that I have been in the dark.
I have been in places that did not make any sense, I have been fearful and afraid, but I do not have to be afraid of the dark because God is at work where I cannot see.
Ps 18:11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
Genesis 15:6
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Do we believe the Lord?
He still counts it to us for righteousness.
Even when Abraham could not see the promises of God, God showed up and showed him what was going to be.
Even when we cannot see with our physical eyes, the promises of God, hold on, God is still moving.
If God promised it and we stay faithful to Him, then that which was spoken will happen.
When you are in a place of darkness in your walk with the Lord, hold on.
With Jesus leading, you will be all right.
You are going to make it through.
Hold onto God’s Word and realize that by faith in Jesus, we will persevere.
We will be on the winning side.
You can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth you!
Maybe today you feel hopeless and afraid.
In the dream, I was afraid. All of a sudden, God’s presence came upon me. I started to shout “Jesus”.
Maybe we just need to shout “Jesus” today!
Someone shout “Jesus!”
I no longer felt hopeless.
In the dream, I was no longer afraid to be in the dark.
Church, fear not, God has your back!
Closing
Are you in the dark this morning and need an answer?
Ps 18:11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
Stand where you are. Darkness is God’s secret place.
