Genesis 15 tells the story of God making a pact, a covenant with Abram.  A mutual promise which God initiates, requiring belief on Abram’s part.  A pledge of countless offspring for Abram and Sarai, a barren old couple.  What good can come from God’s promises without even one heir?  Abram wonders if maybe his foreign servant will be the one to inherit.  Eliezer of Damascus.  Him?  Some promise.

Ever feel like your living with God’s left-overs?  Not quite what you expected?  Second-best?  Passed by and overlooked?

Abram exhibits faith in God (v.6).  However, he begs for reassurance–‘O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?’ (Gen. 15:8).  Abram has tiny, mustard-seed faith.  But it’s enough for now.  So God tells him to gather some animals for a ceremony.  Abram collects them.

Before God puts him into a deep sleep, Abram is ‘bewitched, bothered, and bewildered’ by nasty birds of prey.  Possessing keen eyesight, they grasp and kill their prey for a meal.  My wife and I were walking in a lovely state park, when a bald eagle swoops down quite close to us grabbing a frog, swallowing it whole.  Yuck!  So much for the romance of seeing bald eagles.  Predators!  I hardly overate at dinner that evening!

When Abram has everything in place, then come those pesky birds to steal and kill and destroy (Gen. 15:11).  Does that phrase sound familiar?  Check out John 10:10.  Satan and his rotten forces love to mess up our joy both in life and in the Lord.  Ever notice that?  Of course you have.

Don’t be surprised or caught off guard.  Get ready.  James has the right idea–‘Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7).  As Abram did in his day–‘Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away’ (Gen. 15:11).

Do your best to shoo them far off.  Stop your ears to their doubting whispers.  Walk away from temptations you know are eating away at you.  Resist.  Drive them away.  Odious birds of prey.  Shoo.

And then get closer to Jesus.  Keep a short account of sins needing His forgiveness.  Go to Him as soon as possible.  Give no room for Satan, who can’t wait to barge in as the crook, terminator, blaggard and braggart he truly is.

Cuddle up a little closer…to the Lord your God where you’ll find there’s no room for the enemy.  None.  With Jesus you’re safe, free and peaceful!

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us life in its fullness.  Keep Satan far away from us.  In your name.  Amen.