Sermon for 6/11/23: FIrst Sunday After Trinity

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God’s Word, Not Man’s Wish
Genesis 15:1-6

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wishing is not the same as having a blessing. Wishes originate within our hearts, and wishing focuses on what we think is the best, the way we think life ought to be. But the way we think things should be and the way God designed things to be can be as far apart as east is from west. Instead of praying with faith, “Thy will be done,” we seek the desires of our sin-blackened hearts. And so, wishing produces disappointments that evolve into growing doubts. But a blessing always benefits you. A blessing always revolves around God’s will for your life.

Abram was not especially filled with joy at the events of his life, particularly as he thought about one empty spot: a son. Abram, whom we know better as Abraham, had been promised by the Lord God that he would be the father of a great nation and that, in Abram, all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Yet he was without a son; his heir was Eliezer of Damascus, one of his servants. So he continued to wait, though not especially patiently. After all, waiting can be hard, especially when we think God is withholding a blessing.

But then the Word of the Lord came to Abram. The Lord God knows exactly what fears and questions go on in the minds, hearts, and souls of His people. You are sinning if you think, “I wish God knew what I was going through.” “I wish He was here.” “I wish He knew what suffering and dying were all about.” The Word of God tells us that the Lord knows your fears, your hurts, your pains—and not just from having a distant view of them, but from actually living them Himself. Our Lord Jesus experienced the pain and anguish of body and soul when He suffered and died on the cross in your place.

So the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abram.” Though He did not initially refer to Abram’s specific dilemma, the Lord knew exactly what plagued Abram’s days and haunted his nights. God told him, “Fear not. This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Here the Lord God Almighty reminds Abram that His Word shall accomplish His purpose. The promise is certain, even though it seems impossible to man that it could ever take place. From our limited human perspective, consider the creation of the universe in six days; a flood to cover the face of the whole earth; God being born in flesh; Jesus being present in and under bread and wine; God dying to win forgiveness for all people of all times and places; the Resurrection. Apart from faith, man views these historic events as absurd or impossible. They would place limits on God. They would place the wish of man over the Word of God.

But through the Word, Abram believed. Abram believed in the Lord, and the Lord accounted it to him for righteousness. That, dear people, is the promise of God for the salvation of all those who believe: salvation by the grace of God through faith in Christ as the Redeemer. Isaac believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Moses trusted the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Paul believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. So did Timothy. So did Augustine. The truth of this Good News came to a wretched man named Martin Luther. By the grace of God, he believed the Lord God, and it was reckoned to Luther as righteousness. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Abraham, has become a blessing to the nations. God’s promise of a Savior was fulfilled in Christ. God’s promise that Abraham would be the father of many is being fulfilled each time He works faith in the heart of an unbeliever.

The Lord brought Abram outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” God promises that Abram will have more descendants than there are stars in the sky. But Abram is not ordered to wish upon a star. He is not to search for a genie in a lamp. Instead he is to behold the goodness of God, the fount of blessing, where he will receive more blessings than he can count.

We are sons of Abraham—not because of who Abraham was, but because we believe what he believed. We are Lutherans, not because of who Luther was, but because we believe, teach, and confess the same Gospel, the Good News of God in Christ. So I will not say, “I wish you would believe this”—for this would be a man’s expression of desire. Imagine a pastor making a hospital visit with a man with terminal cancer and saying, “I wish you healing of your body.” Whatever ails you, whatever weighs on your heart, I do not wish healing for you. Instead, hear the Good News: “I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” These words are not the wish of man; they are the Word of God, and they bring to you the perfect healing of your body and soul, both now and for eternity. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.