Abraham was directed to look up to heaven and count, if he could, the sparkling stars. He could not. He was then informed that his descendants would also be innumerable. (Gen. 15:5) The stars were now an evidence to him of the unlimited powers of God. His descendants are here told to behold the heavens and to remember that, although the entire universe is subject to change, and apparent destruction, as a smoke that vanishes, yet the salvation of God remains the same for ever, and his righteousness will never be abolished. Here is something permanent, not depending on changing fashions not left behind because of the progress of civilization or the increase of knowledge. What was right and good and pleasing to our heavenly Father at the beginning, is good and right and pleasing today and will remain so for ever and ever. It is interesting to note, what the sacred Scriptures say of the stars,
"Instead of supposing a thousand, as ancient astronomers did (Hipparchus says 1022, Ptolemy 1026), they declare that they are innumerable; a declaration which modern telescopes discover to be not even a figure of speech. 'God,' says Sir John Hershel, after surveying the groups of stars and nebulae in the heavens, 'has scattered them like dust through the immensity of space.' And when the Scriptures speak of their hosts, it is as dependent, material, obedient things." (Dr. Joseph Angus)