What Can the Lord Do?

12th Sunday after Pentecost, 9/1/19
Genesis 15:1-6


What Can the Lord Do?
I. When we’re paralyzed with fear
II. When his promises seem worthless


“There are no solutions; just intelligent choices.” I’m not the author of that statement. I heard it from someone years ago who told me that it was the advertising slogan for BP Oil. I checked the internet to see if that’s true, but I couldn’t substantiate it. However, it doesn’t really matter who said it first.

“There are no solutions; just intelligent choices.” Do you agree with that statement? I guess it depends on the subject matter at hand. If your vehicle is low on fuel and you’re certain you don’t have enough fuel in the tank to make the intended trip, there is a solution. Stop at the gas station and fill your gas tank. Problem solved! That’s not only an intelligent choice; it’s also a sure-fire solution.

Or, if you’re fairly certain you have an infection, the solution to your problem is to make an appointment to see your doctor who will prescribe an antibiotic to kill the infection and heal you. That’s not simply an intelligent choice; it’s also a real solution.

But many of you, I’m sure, have experienced the truth of that statement in other situations. No matter what your doctor says or does, no matter how many medical experts you consult, you aren’t going to solve the problem completely. You can make intelligent choices in an effort to deal with the situation as best you can. You can make some changes in your lifestyle to accommodate your new physical reality. But the truth is, your problem will never be solved, at least not this side of heaven.

Have you ever experienced a frustrating situation in your life, a situation in which it appears there are no solutions? I’m guessing you have, more often than you can count. Perhaps when you first began dealing with it, you prayed to the Lord about it frequently, trusting and hoping that he would bring you the desired result. But as time wore on and nothing changed, you got to the point at which you figured the Lord wasn’t going to do anything to help you. In fact, you asked in despair, “What can the Lord do?”

In today’s text from Genesis 15 we meet Abraham once again. The Bible doesn’t record Abraham asking in despair, “What can the Lord do?” But I’m certain he felt that way, just as we all do from time to time. At this point in his life, Abraham was facing some seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his personal life and his spiritual life. Let’s see what those are and how his situation applies to our lives as we ask that same question, “What can the Lord do?”

Part I.

There are times in our lives when we know what’s wrong with us and we intentionally seek the help of a physical or mental health care professional and tell that person what we’re facing. There are other times when we get the sense that something’s not quite right with us and we see such professionals and they quickly tell us what the issue is that we’re facing. That situation is incredibly helpful. We barely knew we had a problem. They helped us see exactly what it was and how to address it.

Did the opening verses of our text puzzle you? It seems as if the Lord came out of nowhere to Abraham (who was still known as Abram at this time) and states, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Did you wonder at all about his opening encouragement – don’t be afraid? That’s understandable, because there’s nothing in the previous verse or verses which would inform us that Abraham was full of fear. But obviously he was, or the Lord wouldn’t have made the effort to communicate with him. As we experience with our earthly health care professionals, perhaps it was a great relief for Abram for this “divine professional” to get Abram’s fears out on the table.

So, we rightly assume that fear was a problem for Abram, but fear over what? The answer lies in the previous chapter. It’s the account of Abram rescuing Lot. Five eastern kings in the Holy Land had invaded the area where Abram and Lot lived. They plundered the people and took Lot and his family captive. Abram led his servants in a surprise attack and recovered all the plunder and rescued Lot and his family. But those five kings survived. Would they regroup and retaliate? Would they fiercely attack this nomad named Abram? If so, how would Abram be able to protect his wife, his servants and all his flocks and herds? Humanly speaking, he was a sitting duck. These kings were not going to sit still until they had neutralized Abram. Abram was filled with fear. What could the Lord do?

He announced his stunning but firm promise to Abram. “I am your shield, your very great reward.” Abram had rescued Lot and recovered all the plunder. The plunder now rightly belonged to him. But he would have none of it. He returned it to its original owners, even when the rescued king insisted that Abram keep it. Abram trusted that the Lord would provide for him.

And now the Lord also promised to protect him. The Lord was his shield. Even if the five kings should attack, the Lord would keep Abram safe. He would use his almighty power to deflect whatever harm they intended to cause Abram.

Abram was fearful. He might have even been paralyzed with fear. In such a situation, what can the Lord do? He promised to protect Abram.

Have you ever been paralyzed with fear? Perhaps your loved one was injured in a serious accident or your child was hospitalized with a yet-undiagnosed malady and he or she was in critical condition. Or perhaps a looming financial crisis filled your heart and mind with fear. You don’t see any way out of your problem. There doesn’t seem to be any solution and you’re mortified over what you think you’re about to face. Have you been there? If only the Lord would do what he did for Abram. If only he would come to us in a vision as he did in this instance and assure us that he is our shield. That he will guard and keep us. That he will make everything turn out for our good. That he would send his holy angels to watch over us and our loved ones. If only… The reality is, he has already done that. It’s right here in his word. He has made all those promises to you just as surely as he made this promise to Abram. The problem is that we too often doubt him. We find ourselves asking, “What can the Lord do?” We fail to see what he has already done to overcome our greatest fear—the fear of death in hell. Look once again at your Savior’s cross and then peer again into his empty tomb. That’s what the Lord can do. That’s what he did. May your faith in your Savior drive your fears away and fill you with divine confidence.

Part II.

So, you’re having a conversation with someone and their words clearly indicate that they’re upset about something, but what they’re telling you just doesn’t seem to add up. You get this feeling that there’s something they’re not telling you. So, you come right out and ask them, “What’s the real problem?” And then the tears begin to flow and the words become deeply honest. Now you know what’s bothering them.

We aren’t told that Abram did any weeping on this evening when the Lord came to him in a vision. But he did clearly reveal what was really bothering him. Years earlier God had promised to give him a son through whom God would bless all people. So, listen again to what was bothering Abram. “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” He was about to take matters into his own hands and legally adopt his most trusted servant. That was Abram’s answer to the question, “What can the Lord do?” It seemed like an intelligent choice.

But listen to God’s solution. “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir. Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be.” A childless man would become the father of a countless nation of people. Incredible! But that’s what the Lord can do.

And then don’t miss this final piece of saving information. “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Abram was saved in the same way you are. Abram trusted that the Lord would send a Savior into the world. You trust that the Lord has already sent a Savior into the world. And on the basis of that faith, God declares you to be righteous. Our biggest problem is not the worries that we have about ourselves or our loved ones. Our biggest problem is sin because, on the basis of sin, we are condemned to eternal hell. But God declares us righteous or holy. We have that righteousness by faith in Jesus.

At this point in his life Abram was wondering about the value of God’s promises. The Lord came to him and assured him that he is faithful to every one of them.

But how often have you been at the point in your faith that Abram was? I’ll bet more often than you can count. You know the promises of God. You have them right here before you in his word, but they seem to be only that—just words on a piece of paper.

I might agree with you, if God had not stained those words with the holy blood of his Son for you. Can you think of any more important promise that God has made to you than to send his only Son to this earth in order to sacrifice him for your sins? That boggles the mind! That’s God’s eternal love for you in action. He did what he said he would do for you. And then he raised his Son from the dead to make you certain of it.

So, when his promises of help or his abiding presence or his comfort or his strength or his guidance in your life seem worthless and you’re wondering out loud what the Lord can do, remember what the Lord already did long ago. Recall Christmas, then recall Good Friday, then recall Easter. Can God’s promises to you get any greater than that? Certainly not! Then surely he’ll be faithful to every other promise he has made to you.

What can the Lord do? He has promised to do exactly what he said he would do. You can count on that all the way to heaven with him. Amen.