COUNT THE STARS

COUNT THE STARS

When Abram was discouraged and needed faith, God commanded him to “count the stars.” Here is some background that will help you understand that command more clearly. Years before when he was in Harran “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.” (Genesis 12:1-5)

The Scriptures also teach that God appeared to Abram when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.

“The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.” (Acts 7:2-4)

The “Scriptures” teach that Abram was 75 when he left Harran, and “Jewish tradition” teaches that he was 70 when he left Mesopotamia. The point is, Abram had waited a long time for God to keep His promise!

• Yes! God did promise Abram that his family would become a great nation.
• 15 years later, however, Abram still had no children.
• Abram was therefore discouraged and prayed to God: “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:2-6)

FAITH IS BASED UPON EVIDENCE

John specifically wrote his Gospel to provide evidence for our faith: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)

Signs are a simple way to give guidance and direction. Signs can help us not to get lost if we pay attention to them. That’s why we have so many signs on highways! The Gospel of John lists seven “signs” to help us get to heaven on the highway of life. John recorded these seven “signs” that you

may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

1. The turning of water into wine shows that Jesus is the Lord of nature (John 2:1-11). 2. Healing the nobleman’s son shows that Jesus is the Lord over distance (John 4:46-54). 3. Healing a paralyzed man on the Sabbath shows that Jesus is Lord over the Law (John 5:1-15). 4. Feeding the 5,000 shows that Jesus is Lord over agriculture (John 6:1-14). 5. Walking on the water which shows that Jesus is Lord over science (John 6:15-21). 6. The healing of the man born blind shows that Jesus is Lord over birth (John 9:1-41). 7. The raising of Lazarus shows that Jesus is Lord over death (John 11:1-57)

THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN, OF COURSE, IS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS HIMSELF! JOHN ONLY RECORDED A FEW OF THE SIGNS JESUS PERFORMED! “JESUS DID MANY OTHER THINGS AS WELL. IF EVERY ONE OF THEM WERE WRITTEN DOWN, I SUPPOSE THAT EVEN THE WHOLE WORLD WOULD NOT HAVE ROOM FOR THE BOOKS THAT WOULD BE WRITTEN” (JOHN 21:25)

This brings us back to Abram counting the stars. Abram’s faith needed evidence and some of that evidence is in the stars. Note: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalms 19:1). No man knows the number of the stars but God for He “determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” (Psalms 147:4) Just as every human being is unique, so also every star differs from every other star in glory (1 Corinthians 15:41).

In some mysterious way Abram also saw Jesus. Jesus told the Jews: “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56). In addition to being the “Seed” though which all the world would be blessed, (Galatians 3:16) the Scriptures are clear that Jesus also created the very stars that helped Abram believe: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)

When Abram counted the stars he came to see God in a better way and his faith was credited to him as righteousness!

Before proceeding let us point out that God changed the name of Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) - Genesis 17:5. So the name “Abram” and the name “Abraham” both refer to the same person.

DID ABRAM ACTUALLY COUNT THE STARS?

While the Scriptures do not explicitly say that Abram counted the stars, they do remind us many times that Abram obeyed God. Here are a few examples of his obedience:

• “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
• Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek and said to the king of Sodom: “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’” (Genesis 14:22-23)
• When “the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram immediately obeyed God and prepared these offerings exactly as God commanded (Genesis 15:9-10).
• God changed Abram’s name to Abraham at the same time He gave him the commandment of circumcision. “On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen; Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.” (Genesis 17:23-27)
• When God commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of Moriah, Abraham immediately obeyed and began his three day journey “early the next morning” (Genesis 22:1-14).
• Because Abraham obeyed God the Lord told him: ““I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:16-18)
• Attempting to count the stars would be an easy command to obey by comparison with other commandments given by God!
• CERTAINLY WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ABRAHAM DID NOT IMMEDIATELY COUNT THE STARS AS GOD COMMANDED!

HOW MANY STARS COULD ABRAHAM SEE?

According to Wikipedia there are between 200 billion and 2 trillion galaxies in our universe. Experts also estimate that there are between 100 billion and 400 billion stars in our galaxy. It is obvious that no man or group of men can count the number of the stars. Even with our most sophisticated telescopes we can only “estimate” or “guess” at the number of stars. With the naked eye experts “estimate” that man can only see between 2,600 and 4,500 stars on any given night.

Abraham was an old man and had seen these stars thousands of times. Never before, however, had he attempted to count them. Such a task is not easy! As he focused his eyes and concentrated his mind on this task he began to see God more clearly. Like Moses concentrating on the burning bush the power and majesty of God suddenly came to Abram with remarkable clarity. Abraham’s mind was energized to thirst for the knowledge of God like a deer pants for water (Psalms 42:1) That’s when “Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

The famous astronomer Galileo (1564-1642) has been called “the father of modern science.” He instituted fundamental changes in the study of motion, astronomy, cosmology, physics, biology, and material science. He arrived at his conclusions based upon experimentation and observation. Galileo was a devout Christian who said: "God is known by nature in his works, and by doctrine in his revealed

word." Galileo not only believed what he saw in his telescope, he also believed what he saw in the Bible!

When Abraham counted the stars his faith took a gigantic leap. Like Galileo, he discovered there is no difference between what God says in person and what he says in nature.

“TO BELIEVE” IS THE WORK OF GOD

The Jews asked Jesus: “What must we do to do the work God requires? Jesus answered. “The work of God is this: to belief in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29) Concentrated our thought is not easy. As you know a great many “workers” make a living by focusing their mind on jobs they are paid to do.

Looking at the stars is easy, but counting the stars is work!

Consider the thief on the cross. Jesus was crucified at 9:00 in the morning. At this time both criminals who were crucified with Jesus heaped insults on Him (Matthew 27:44). As the day wore on, however, one criminal began to do some serious thinking. Like Abram counting the stars, or a book keeper analyzes the assets of a business, the thief mentally examined the evidence and came to a saving faith! His thinking led him to see something the disciples of Jesus did not see. While the disciples believed that Jesus was losing His kingdom, the thief realized that Jesus was actually coming into His kingdom. Here is the way Luke was inspired to tell the story: “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 39-43)

How true! “The work of God is this: to belief in the one he has sent.”

• Now let us consider the background of the words of Jesus regarding the “work of God” being “to believe” in the one He has sent.
• After Jesus fed the 5,000 the Jews said: “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” (John 6:14-15) Satan had already been offered Jesus all the kingdoms of this world (Luke 4:5-7). Yet, this obviously was still a temptation that Jesus had to overcome. So Jesus sent His disciples away, dismissed the crowd, and then went up on a mountain to pray (Matthew 14:22- 22-23)
• John continues: “When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.” (John 6:16-17)
• “A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” Since Jesus can control the wind and the waves, and can even walk on water, it seems that this entire episode was designed by God to challenge them to think about God is a better way.
• “Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:24-26) All the kingdoms of this world that Jesus had been offered have disappeared. They are gone like crumbs of bread dropped on the ground. Jesus wants us to think in terms of bread that doesn’t spoil and a kingdom that is eternal.
• This is when Jesus challenged them: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:27)
• “Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

THE THINGS WHICH WE SEE ARE TEMPORARY

The apostles of Christ were sent out by Jesus like sheep in the midst of wolves and suffered greatly for preaching Christ. Paul wrote: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10) Paul learned to survive this suffering by focusing on things eternal!

• REMEMBER! JESUS CREATED THINGS THAT ARE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE (COLOSSIANS 1:16) BOTH THE VISIBLE AND THE INVISIBLE ARE REAL!
• THE THINGS VISIBLE, HOWEVER, ARE TEMPORAL AND WILL SOME DAY WILL BE DESTROYED. THEY WILL COMPLETELY DISAPPEAR (2 PETER 3:10).
• THE INVISIBLE THINGS, HOWEVER, WILL LAST FOREVER!
• THEREFORE PAUL WROTE:

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

• This is not easy to do! To “see” the “unseen” is described as a “work of faith” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
• “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
• It is not easy to see the unseen, but it is still possible. Just before Stephen died the Scriptures state: “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 9:55-56)
• The book of Hebrews encourages us to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)
• Here are two things we must believe in order to be saved: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

THE VISION OF MOSES “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. (Hebrews 11:24-29)

• The faith of Moses caused him to do a series of things that seem to be irrational:
• He refused his royal heritage as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
• He chose to be mistreated with the people of God.
• He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ of greater value than the treasures of Egypt.
• He did not fear the anger of the Pharaoh.
• By faith he kept the Passover so that the firstborn of Israel were not killed.
• By faith he stretched out his staff and parted the waters of the Red Sea.
• ALL OF THIS WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE MOSES SAW HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE!

When Miriam and Aaron dared to criticize Moses: “Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:5-8)

When Peter preached in Solomon’s colonnade to thousands of Jews he quoted from Deuteronomy 18:15-19: “For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’” (Acts 3:22-23)

When a magician wants to deceive his audience he often uses “misdirection” to distract them. It might be a loud noise, a bright flash, a snap of the fingers, a stamp of his foot, or the flourish of a cape. He hopes your eyes will focus on the distraction and enable him to deceive you.

So the devil tried to distract Moses with the “treasures of Egypt.” Egypt was a world leader from its unification around 3,100 B.C. to its conquest by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. Ezekiel predicted, however, regarding Egypt, “It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and never again exalt itself above the other nations.” (Ezekiel 29:15)

Paul was correct when he said: “For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

The famous martyr, Jim Elliot agreed and said: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

EXAMINE YOURSELF

Paul wrote: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

One way to examine yourself is to look in the mirror. James warned: “ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it— they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25)

When you were first born again you were like a new born baby. As you drank the pure spiritual milk of His Word, however, you began to grow (1 Peter 1:23-2:3) It is natural for Christians to “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

If you look in the mirror and honestly examine yourself it will be easy to see if you are growing to maturity. Every day we should be a little more like Jesus! In fact, like a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, every day we are being “transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

• The Apostle John in I John lists six things that describe everyone who is born of God:
• Everyone who does what is right has been born of God (1 John 2:29).
• No one who is born of God will continue to sin (1 John 2:10).
• Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7).
• Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and loves his brethren who are also born of God (1 John 5:1).
• Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).
• John repeats the promise of I John 2:10 - “we know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin, but the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” (1 John 5:18)

(Note – When we are born again we are sinners saved by grace. John explained: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is

faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10) The next verses explain how Jesus helps us to overcome these sins in two ways. First, Jesus is our “advocate” or “lawyer.” Second Jesus is our “mercy seat” or “atoning sacrifice”; “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2) THE POINT IS. THAT IF WE ARE BORN AGAIN JESUS HELPS US TO NOT CONTINUE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES!

IF YOU HOLD ON TO JESUS – HE WILL HELP YOU BE VICTORIOUS

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 24-25)