Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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of that great blessing, and an assurance of his relation to the Messiah, of which God had already encouraged him to maintain the expectation. He has wealth, and victory, and honour; but, while he is kept in the dark about the main matter, it is all nothing to him. Note, Till we have some comfortable evidence of our interest in Christ and the new covenant, we should not rest satisfied with anything else. "This, and the other, I have; but what will all this avail me, if I go Christless?" Yet thus far the complaint was culpable, that there was some diffidence of the promise at the bottom of it, and a weariness of waiting God's time. Note, True believers sometimes find it hard to reconcile God's promises and his providences, when they seem to disagree.
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo,
one born in my house is mine heir.
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.
God's gracious answer to this complaint. To the first part of the complaint (Ge 15:2) God gave no immediate answer, because there was something of fretfulness in it; but, when he renews his address somewhat more calmly (Ge 15:3), God answered him graciously.
Note, If we continue instant in prayer, and yet pray with a humble submission to the divine will, we shall not seek in vain.
1. God gave him an express promise of a son, Ge 15:4. This that is born in thy house shall not be thy heir, as thou fearest, but one that shall come forth out of thy own bowels shall be thy heir. Note,
(1.) God makes heirs; he says, "This shall not, and this shall;" and whatever men devise and design, in settling their estates, God's counsel shall stand.
(2.) God is often better to us than our own fears, and gives the mercy we had long despaired of.