What the Bible says about Abraham's Descendents as Numerous as Stars
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Genesis 13:16 emphasizes the concept of fecundity. God promises to multiply Abraham greatly.
Charles Whitaker
Searching for Israel (Part One): The Promises to the FaithfulRelated Topics: Abraham's Children | Abraham's Descendents as Numerous as Stars | Abraham's Spiritual Children | Abraham, Descendants of | Descendents of Abraham as numerous as Stars | God's Promises to Abraham | God's Promises to Abraham's Descendents | God's Promises to Israel | Promises to Abraham
Following the "bread and wine" incident of Genesis 14:18, Abraham asks for clarification of his status with God, because earlier, in Genesis 12, God had implied that Abraham's family would be great. After Abraham asks for clarification, God give the promise using an illustration involving stars. In order for Abraham to see stars, this event had to take place at night.
Notice Exodus 12:5-6:
Your [Passover] lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
This is one of those places where the word "evening" is from the term in Hebrew ben ha arbayim. In modern English it means "twilight" or "dusk." The meaning of this word describes the time that the sun has gone down, but light continues to remain for a period of time. At this time of the year, the light would have lingered very close to about 45 minutes. After that, it would be dark.
Abraham is brought bread and wine by Melchizedek. The next thing we see in Genesis 15 is the mention of "stars"; it is dark. The Passover takes place in that period of dim light before it becomes dark. That is the time that we, in our observance, normally take Passover, just as the sun goes down. That is where the opening of Genesis 15 is time-wise. By the time you see stars, it is dark. We are beginning to see that time is moving in this episode.
When ben ha arbayim takes place, the Abib 13 has ended and Abib 14, Passover day, begins. This is undoubtedly when Melchizedek brought forth the bread and wine. Then came Abraham's vision, when it was dark and the stars were out. It is clearly into Abib 14, because it is dark.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Wavesheaf and the Selfsame DayRelated Topics: Abraham's Descendents as Numerous as Stars | Abraham's Relationship with God | Abraham, Descendants of | Ben Ha Arbayim | Ben Har Arbayim | Bread and Wine | Descendents of Abraham as numerous as Stars | God's Promises to Abraham | Melchizedek | Passover | Promises to Abraham's Descendants | Selfsame Day | Stars, Dust, and Sand as Metaphors
This promise indicates that the nations that come from Abraham are going to spread over the whole earth.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Where Is the Beast? (Part Three)
The Mustard Seed parable describes a plant with the humblest of beginnings, representing the Kingdom's beginning with Abraham by faith. Its growth relative to its initial size sets it apart from other plants.
Hebrews 11:12 describes the same effect but with a different metaphor: “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” A mighty increase occurred from what God began with Abraham. However, the parable concludes with birds—used as a symbol of Satan and the demons (see Matthew 13:4, 19)—nesting in the branches, which shows the spiritually unclean state of the Kingdom at the time of Jesus' teaching.
David C. Grabbe
God's Kingdom in the Parables (Part Four): The Pearl, the Dragnet, and the Householder