Our Loving Father (Genesis 15:6)

Genesis 15:6 says, "Abraham believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness." (KJV)

(NOTE: Though this verse has previously been discussed, emphasizing "righteousness" [see, "What you believe and what you do about it"], the text is so pregnant with meaning, that it begged to be revisited to further expound on the wonderful insights contained in the Father's precious word. Enjoy.)

Words are vehicles of vision that create strong visual concepts that help to form our behavior, based upon what we believe to be true.

It is true that over 95% of all quotations from the OT, found in the NT, came from the Septuagint (LXX), [Greek translation of the OT], or to say it another way, the Greek OT, was the "Bible" of choice for Jesus, Paul, and the other NT writers. (Ironically, almost all "Christian" Bibles are a translation of the Greek NT of choice and the Hebrew text for the OT.) However, the understanding of OT scripture is often rooted, not in the Greek, but Hebrew word imagery that gives foundation to the Greek text.

BELIEVED - This word is the origin of our English word "Amen".  [ meaning that something is established; solid; unshakable; true.].

First

The imagery of this word is extremely significant! It presents the picture of an infant child held securely and lovingly in the arms of its parent, specifically it's father. Therefore, the basis for "faith", is derived from this father/infant-child  relationship. The security of who our Father is, and His loving care for us, enables us to confidently believe in what He says and for us to act accordingly.

Second

A second aspect of this word, is that the Hebrew translates this word almost interchangeably into our English words "faith" or "faithfulness", demonstrating that our "faith" is based on His "faithfulness".

The concept of God being our loving Father, that carries us in His strong; secure; unfailing arms, as the basis of the word "believe",  gives new insight and meaning to the numerous references made by Jesus, concerning the Father.

"...your Father knows what you need before you ask...'' (Matt. 6:8)

"...your Father knows that you need all these things..."  (Matt. 6:32)

"...if natural parents know how to  give good gifts to their children, how much more will your Father give good things to you when you ask Him.." (Matt. 7:11)

COUNTED - This word originates in the visual imagery of an embroider or weaver of cloth, gathering the various colored strands of thread together, to form a whole composition. [It refers to this original meaning in several verses in the OT. (Ex. 26:1,31; 28:6; 35:35; 36:8; 39:8)].

Habitual

Foundational, in this verse, is not only the legal aspect presented, but as the word "believed" grammatically presents Abraham as one who habitually believed God and not just at this specific moment in time, but rather it was his way of life to believe what God, his Father said, so too, this word involves, in this verse, a process of time.

Like a weaver or embroider, God gathered together the strands of thread, that made up the fabric of  Abraham's life (specifically his faith, i.e., how he responded to what God, his Father, said to him), and these formed an "embroidered picture" to God whereby He judged Abraham as qualified to partake in the inheritance that He had for him. (i.e., declared him righteous).

[As seen from the study "What you believe, and what you do about it" , righteousness has to do with civil law, or the right of inheritance; right to rule or authority, and is  not a reference to guilt or innocence.]

Though we are already declared righteous, not based on our merit, but on what our older brother Jesus did for us, yet our loving Father examines our faith, the strands of thread of the fabric of our lives, to help us to enter into even more of what already belongs to us in our relationship with Him.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.