與上帝同行是一回事，跑在上帝面前又是一回事，上帝雖一再重覆應許亞伯蘭子孫無數，（12：2；13：16；15：4—5）但多年過去，卻毫無實現的跡象，亞伯蘭等得不耐煩，就做了一件蠢事，結果真的得了一子，以實瑪利，日後他不但使父親心碎，也成為因不信上帝而付出極高代價的典型代表。然而上帝的應許依然存在！雖然按照生理來說是不可能的，可是亞伯蘭和撒萊終將有一個兒子──這個應許藉著他們的新名字而證實，新名字的意思是「準父母」，亞伯拉罕意即「多國之父」，撒拉則為「多國之母」。

        短視是個嚴厲的老師，但他的視力卻是一點零！創世記理並未刻意掩飾亞伯拉罕的軟弱，而只宣揚他的優點與信心、順服，為什麼呢？這是讓我們能從他的身上學功課，不論優點、缺點。
        在亞伯拉罕跑在上帝前面的這個實例中，短視教會了你什麼？有兩個教訓值得注意：
        亞伯拉罕的上帝太小了！亞伯拉罕以為撒拉不能懷孕會攔阻上帝的應許，忘了「出於上帝的話，沒有一句不帶能力的」（路1：37）
        亞伯拉罕的耐心太不夠了！他要趕快實現上帝的應許，就自作主張的負起上帝的責任。
        寫下一個上帝超越時空的應許（可考慮腓4：19），貼在鐘上，好讓你可以常常看到。這是一個整天可以提醒你支取上帝應許的好方法！

        誰繼承產業？
        古代的近東地區，人死後的財產繼承權依次如下：（一）元配之子；（二）妾侍之子；（三）奴婢之子；（四）地位較高之奴僕繼承其房屋。依此「繼承法」，誰能接收些產業，請看15：2、3？……16：1？……16：15？

很多人在船到之前就離開碼頭了。

English

        It is one thing to walk with God; it is something else to run ahead of God. God's promise to Abram of many descendants is amply repeated (12:2; 13:16; 15:4-5). But as the years pass with no evidence of fulfillment, Abram acts in foolish impatience. The result is a son, Ishmael, who becomes the heartbreak of his father and a constant reminder of the high price of unbelief. But God's promise stands sure! Though biologically impossible, Abram and Sarai will yet give birth to a son—a promise confirmed by new names for the parents-to-be: Abraham ("father of a multitude") and Sarah ("princess").

        Hindsight may be a harsh teacher, but its vision is always 20/20! And the Book of Genesis does not seek to cover up the frailties of Abraham and Sarah but includes them right along with the moments of shining faith and obedience. Why? So that you might learn from their example, whether good or bad!
        Here are two lessons hindsight can teach you from Abraham's life about the danger of running ahead of God:
        (1) Abraham's God was too small, Abraham assumed that Sarah's barrenness was a permanent obstacle to God's promise, forgetting that "with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).
        (2) Abraham's patience was too short. He got in a hurry. He decided to fulfill a promise that God was responsible to fulfill.
        Write out one of God's timeless promises to you and attach it to a clock you glance at regularly. This is a great way to remind yourself throughout the day that there's no time like the present to take God at His Word!

        Who Gets the Estate?
        In the ancient Near East, the heir of a man's property upon his death was determined in this order: (1) the son of his first wife; (2) the son of another wife; (3) the son of a slave girl; (4) the ranking servant in his house. Using this guide, who would have received the estate in 15:2-3? ... in 16:1? ... in 16:15?

Many a man has turned and left the dock just before his ship came in.