今天的經文描述的是：上帝和亞伯拉罕立約，重申約定的情景，以及約定所象微的意義。上帝的應許裡包括許多細節，應許未實現時，祂獨自重申約定必會完成，並以割禮為記堅定這個約定，但許多年過去了，當年的約定一點也沒有實現的跡象，亞伯拉罕在焦躁不耐中做了一件愚蠢的決定，雖然得了－個兒子，名叫以實瑪利，卻成為老父永遠的心頭之痛，始終都在提醒亞伯拉罕，這是一個不信的代價！

        如果明天你就不在這個世界上了，你要怎麼度過今天？對亞伯蘭來說，這不僅僅是個學術問題而已。他率領只有三百一十八人的一小隊精兵，一舉擊潰了諸王的大軍，救了姪兒羅得，奪回所有被擄走的生命財產。然而意氣風發之後，漫漫孤寂的長夜來了，他感到害怕，惟恐敵人回頭繼續叫戰，又怕自己沒有子嗣，而年事已高就此人去燈滅，絲毫不存。
        就在他處於極度痛苦，恐懼逐漸蠶食他對上帝的信心時，竟聽到一個聲音說：「亞伯蘭，你不要懼怕，我是你的盾牌」（創15：1），上帝以祂的同在擁抱亞伯蘭，除去他的恐懼，重申祂的應許，於是亞伯蘭「信耶和華」。
        最常使你癱瘓的恐懼是什麼？害怕失敗？未知？或是不，愉快的往事纏繞著你？在一張大紙上寫下你的恐懼，同時也寫上創世記十五章一節的內容，然後感謝上帝，因為祂能──祂也要──以祂的力量和安慰取代你的恐懼，當你把恐懼交給上帝得著祂的平安時（腓4：6~7），憑著信心撕碎這張紙吧！

夏甲的的奇招──濫用或適用？
        為了得到一個兒子，經過十年毫無結果的等待之後，撒拉要亞伯蘭收納她的貼身侍婢埃及人夏甲為妾，指望她能生一個兒子，根據當代何烈法律的描述，這只是個不足為奇的慣例而已，如果妾生了一個兒子，他將被視為嫡生子，但以實瑪利的出生所帶來的痛苦教訓是顯而易見的：不用上帝的方法去完成上帝的旨意，絕不是上帝的旨意。

上帝從來沒有應許我們安逸平順，祂只保證我們平安到達終點。

English

        Today's reading describes the Abrahamic covenant as it was given, confirmed, and symbolized. God's promises to Abraham are given in great detail, confirmed with a unilateral treaty, repeated, and established by the sign of circumcision. But as The years pass with no evidence of fulfillment, Abraham acts in foolish impatience. The result is a son, Ishmael, who will forever cause the heartbreak of his father, constantly reminding Abraham of the price of his unbelief.

        How would you spend today if you thought you might have no tomorrow? For Abram this was more than an academic question. With his little army of 318 men, he had just thrashed a band of warring kings, rescued his nephew Lot, and brought back the kidnapped people and goods. Now, in the long, lonely night hours that follow, he is scared. Scared that his enemies might return to continue the battle. Scared that his life might be snuffed out while he is yet childless.
        In his moment of deepest need, with fear eating away at his faith in God, he hears a voice: "Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield" (15:1). God surrounded Abram with His presence, removed Abram's fears, and confirmed His promise. And Abram "believed in the LORD."
        What fear paralyzes you most often? Fear of failure? Fear of the unknown? Fear of the past returning to haunt you? Write it down on a large piece of paper, along with the words of Genesis 15:1. Thank God that He can—and will—exchange that fear for His strength and comfort. Then tear that sheet of paper into tiny pieces as you, in an act of faith, give your fear to God and appropriate His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).

Hagar's Treatment—Abusive or Acceptable? —
        After 10 years of fruitless waiting for a son, Sarah offered Abram her personal Egyptian maid, Hagar. hoping to produce a son by her. The Human laws from that period describe this as a customary practice. If a son was born, he was regarded as the wife's. But the painful lesson from Ishmael's birth is clear: God's will done in any way but God's way is not God's will!

God never promises us an easy time, only a safe arrival.