Parshat Lech Lecha - Unconditional Promise to Abraham
by Rabbi Lobel

“And he (G-d) took him (Abraham) outside, and said, “Gaze, now, towards the heavens, and count the stars if you are able to count them!” And he said to him, “so shall the number of your offspring be!” And he (Abraham) trusted in G-d, and he (Abraham) understood it as a gift of righteousness (Genesis 15:5-6).”

Nachmandies explains that Abraham understood this promise to be a gift of G-d's righteousness, not Abraham's righteousness; it was a complete guarantee. All of G-d's other promises were contingent on Abraham fulffiling the will of G-d. If Abraham failed in any way, he could lose all G-d had promised him. However, the guarantee of children was unconditional.

Despite all he had done, being thrown into the furnace for his belief in G-d, leaving his homeland and traveling to a unknown destination only to find a desolate place of famine and hunger, and attracting many people towards following G-d, Abraham understood that G-d's promises were dependent upon what he would do. Surely, he would be rewarded for what he had done but G-d’s promises were in addition to that reward and therefore conditional. To receive all of G-d’s promises, Abraham would need to continue to walk in the ways of the L-rd.

Abraham understood that no matter how much one does or accomplishes, G-d’s greatest rewards are for those who continually strive to do more.