Count YOUR Stars

Genesis 15:5 (NASB95) 

5And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Its simplicity and beauty always strike me. 

God called Abram outside and told him to look up at the night sky. The stars stretched beyond what Abram could count. God used this dramatic scene to show the certainty of His promise. Abram would become the father of a multitude, as countless as the stars above. The Hebrew text highlights a wordplay: God said the heir would come from Abram’s own body, then brought Abram out to see the stars. This connection ties the promise to the visual sign. Abram could not count the stars. God alone can number and name them. The impossibility of the task underlines the certainty of God’s word. What is impossible for man is simple for God. God’s promise stands firm, even when human hope fades. Faith means waiting for God to act. Abram had to trust God’s timing. He had no child, and Sarai’s hope for pregnancy had faded. Yet God told Abram to leave the future in His hands. The stars became a sign of God’s faithfulness – a sign that stands even for us today. The promise of a seed was not just for Abram, but for all who trust God’s word.  

I think it should be part of our spiritual rhythm to stop and count our stars from time to time. What do I mean by this? When was the last time you stopped to count all the blessings God has given you? All the times He has been loyal to you? All the times He has come through for you? 

I bet if you were honest, you would not be able to remember them all, to count them all. It is a good reminder – count the stars if you can.