Dec 3 - Numerous as the Stars

As Numerous as the Stars

Sunday, December 3, 2023

by Brian Groe

"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 22:17-18

Growing up on a small dairy farm in Northern Iowa, one of my earliest memories of Christmas was how dark it was.  I would get off the bus about 4:30 in the afternoon (my dad was the bus driver), and it would already be dark.  The sky would be ablaze with stars.  Mom would have a set of 5 electric candles glowing in the living room picture window.  That would be the only external Christmas lighting we had.

The children's Christmas program was always held at night at the small country church we went to.  I remember walking into the church seeing the stars above matching the twinkling of the snow in the moonlight.  The freshly fallen snow would crunch underfoot because it was so cold, and my Uncle Raymond would be furiously sweeping off the steps so no one would slip.

I remember seeing the stained glass windows glowing from the inside with brilliant color and clarity, sending a message of love and beauty out to a dark world.

The little kids were up first, and since I was only about 6, I got to sing first.  Then the Jr. High with my sister, and my brothers were in the High School group.  I learned an old Norwegian song, one of the few that came over with the immigrants from Norway.

   Jeg er saa glad hver Julekveld,
   thi da blev Jesus født,   
   da lyste Stjernen som en Sol, 
   og Engle sang saa sødt.

   I am so glad each Christmas Eve
   The night of Jesus birth,
   The stars shone out like the sun
   And angels sang on earth.

So what does this have to do with a Bedouin sheep herder that lived almost 4,000 years ago?  Not only did Abraham look up at the same stars with wonder and awe, but the promise given to Abraham is still being played out today.  

I am fascinated by the relationship in this verse between descendants (plural) and offspring (singular).  The descendants of Abraham are as numerous as the stars, but it is the birth of this singular offspring (Jesus) that we are anticipating and celebrating. It is the arrival of this singular offspring that the heavens declared with bright stars and loud rejoicing.  

(OK, so I realize that the plural of offspring is also offspring.  However I have it on good authority that the Hebrew word translated descendants is the plural form while the word translated offspring in this verse is a singular form.)

All the nations of the earth have been blessed through this singular offspring of Abraham, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of all the earth.   He broke through the darkness to bring us the light of His love and forgiveness.

My hope for you all is that through this Advent blog that you will remember once more the wonder of the coming of our Lord, and the joy of hearing those words once more, "His name is Immanuel, God with us."  

This is not quite the way my old choir sounded, but to my 6 year old ears it was close.

Advent Family Prayer

God of Love,
Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love.
Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,
As we wait and prepare for his coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior.

- Author Unknown

All the pictures included here came from my friend Dave Wigham and his Stellina telescope (affectionately known as Stella).