Have you ever had a great victory or a great accomplishment and then felt like you were waiting for the other shoe to fall? Perhaps you had a victory over an enemy and then, in the midst of your elation, you began to fear what consequences might arise as a result? This is where we find Abram in the opening verse of chapter 15. With God’s assistance, he has just defeated 5 mighty kings in battle. And we know that Abram is not a warrior.
In verse 1, we see God telling Abram not to be afraid. I believe Abram was afraid or God would not have been comforting him in this way. Notice that God assures Him that He Himself is Abram’s shield and his great reward. What a wonderful assurance. There is, of course, no place safer than to have God as your shield. Take a moment and copy the comforting words of Psalm 27:1-3 into your journal.
We can see Abram’s reply in verses 2-3. He reminds God that He has not given him a child. It was customary, in those days, that if a man died childless, his most senior servant would inherit his estate. In this case, it would be a man named Eliezer of Damascus. Now remember, in Gen 12:2, God had already promised to make Abram into a great nation yet Abram was a very old man and his wife was barren. He is now reminding God of His promise.
Next, we see God’s response to Abram in verses 4-5. He assures Abram that a servant will not be his heir but rather a son of his own flesh and blood. Then God took Abram outside the tent and challenged him to count the stars, if he could. Remember, Abram was nowhere near a city. Out in the country, the view of the sky was totally unbroken by buildings and trees. I am sure it would have been a clear night, unhindered by clouds and pollution giving Abram a great view of the countless stars. And God told him that this was how many offspring that he, Abram, would have. Countless. God is able to give us our heart’s greatest desire even in circumstances where it does not seem possible. What are some of the other metaphors God used for the promise of Abram’s offspring (Gen 13:16, 22:17)?
Verse 6 tells us something very awesome. Abram believed God. Why do we always find this such a hard thing to do? But even under such unlikely circumstances, Abram believed Him. And God counted it as righteousness. Why do so many people believe that living right and doing good things is what gets us into good standing with God? The truth is, we are not able to be good enough to please God. It is only by our faith that we are able to attain right standing before God (Rom 4:1-5, Heb 11:6, Eph 2:8-9). Read how this principle of salvation through faith applies to all mankind in Rom 4:16-25.
In verse 7, God reminds Abram of a previous promise (Gen 12:1, 6-7). Abram also questions God on this second promise (vs 8), not in disbelief, perhaps, but incredulity. In answer, God shows His good faith by cutting a covenant with Abram. At that time, legal and binding agreements were sealed, not in writing, but by “cutting” a covenant. This was accomplished by dividing an animal. The animal was first cut in half and then the two parties would walk or pass between it. In this legal act, the two parties were agreeing that if either broke the covenant, they would suffer the same fate as the animal.
In verse 9, what animals does God instruct Abram to bring to Him for the covenant? Note that all the animals called out here in verse 9 are animals which God instructs the nation of Israel, later in the book of Leviticus, to use as acceptable offerings in His worship. These are not randomly selected animals.
We see in verse 10, Abram obeying God. He brought and arranged the animals that God had requested. Notice that the birds were not cut in half (Lev 1:17). Then Abram guarded them. When the birds of prey came to bother the carcasses, Abram drove them away (vs 11). Satan is attempting to disrupt God’s symbolism here. What do you think the birds of prey represent? Do you, like Abram, seek to protect the works of God?
From verse 12, describe the time and circumstances of Abram’s vision from God. In this vision, God gives Abram prophesy of 5 specific things which will happen beyond his lifetime (vs 13-16):
- His offspring will be enslaved and mistreated in a foreign country for 400 years (we will see God’s people end up in Egypt by the end of Genesis)
- God will punish the nation that enslaves them (fulfilled in the book of Exodus)
- God’s people will leave their enslavement with great possessions (fulfilled in Exodus 12:31-40)
- Abram would die and be buried with his ancestors in peace at a good old age (fulfilled in Genesis 25)
- In the fourth generation, God’s people would return to Canaan (fulfilled in Exodus, Joshua)
Notice, in verse 16, that God tells Abram that his descendants will return to Canaan in the fourth generation since the sin of the Amorites had not yet reached its full measure. This was a nation whose sin, God knew, would become even more evil. However, God was giving them time to repent, even though I am sure He knew that they would not. Remember our study of his traits when we said that God is merciful. He would not punish them and drive them out until they had been given the full opportunity to repent. Such is God.
In verse 17, we see God Himself passing through the divided animals. The fire and smoke remind us of God’s Holiness, Righteousness, and His Judgement. Because God had no one higher than Himself to swear by, He swore by Himself (Heb 6:13-15). In verses 18-20, God affirms His covenant with Abram to give his offspring a homeland. Has God made any promises concerning your future?
Responding to God: Praise God for His good promises. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your belief. Ask God to be your shield and comfort and trust in Him to do so. Praise Him for His faithful lovingkindness.
Further Research: To learn more about animal sacrifices, read the book of Leviticus.
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