And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:3-6)

Nate Bargatze (bar - GAT - see) is a comedian trending in our household as of late. First, he's funny. It's deadpan humor that hits home with any man who's ever lived. He never cracks a smile as he talks in his Nashville accent. It's not thick but it's present. Secondly, he's clean. I'm trying to think if his delivery contains any four-letter words at all, including ones that we don't bat an eye at anymore. Comedy is nothing but timing, and words matter.

Bargatze is worth looking up on youTube and listening to him talk about his wife and ordering pizza for guests or his time as a water line repair man protecting Tennessee from the Taliban. It's all about timing.

My point about timing is a stretch, but today's reading, assigned for this Sunday, brings about questions on timing. Abram's covenant with God to be the father of Israel has just taken place. Several Sunday's ago, we covered the Lord (pre-incarnate Christ theologians believe) promising Abraham and Sarah they are going to have a son soon (ch 18). Shouldn't we have read the interaction between God and Abram before we read the promise at AbraHAM's tent from the Lord on his way to Sodom and Gomorrah? I suppose the message is more than just timing.

Based on the readings, the question becomes in whom do you put your faith, and in whom do you trust? Our readings this week have been Psalm 33 from yesterday, and the epistle lesson from Hebrews 11 ("By faith..."), and finally the gospel from Luke 12:22-40: "32Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Perhaps the issue of trust and faith has been at the forefront all along, so the order doesn't matter. As disciples of Christ, we are in his Word for preparation. Abram/Abraham, the father of the nation, lived on the promise of a Messiah coming from a great nation to redeem us. We are now all recipients of that promise. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Pray with me: Father, I fail often to remember to put my trust in you. Trust for wisdom as a parent, as a friend, as a brother. Trust in you for advice, health issues, issues I face daily that aren't weighty but merit attention, other issues that are important and sometimes issues that are life and death literally that require attention and thought, YET I seem to not bring them to you until I'm at my wit's end. Forgive me and help me to put you first in my life as a fountain and source for faith and all things in life that bring joy, sadness, comfort and strength. Send your Spirit to guide me to you daily and to seek you in all things. In Christ's name, Amen.