Genesis Series # 3 CHCC: January 28, 2007
God, the Covenant Maker
Genesis 15:1-18
INTRODUCTION:
So far in our study of Genesis we’ve looked at the Creation and the Fall. Last week in Ronnie Morgan’s message we saw how God sent judgment on the world in the flood … and how God extended grace to Noah. Now, God takes the next step in establishing a relationship with the people He created. About 420 years after the time of Noah, God spoke to Abraham. God chose to form a Partnership with this man.
The first time God spoke to Abraham was in Genesis 12 when God told him to leave his home in UR. He was called Abram back then. God said he would show Abram a land that would belong to him and his descendants.
Today we’re going to look at Genesis 15 where God speaks to Abram again --- after a silence of 8 years. At this point, Abram must be wondering what’s going on. He left Ur, but now … 8 years later … he’s still camping out in a wilderness area. So far, he doesn’t own any real estate. And so far, he hasn’t had a son who would inherit his property … if he HAD it.
Then, at last, Abram heard from God again. God told him: “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” So now, Abraham knew that THIS place --- the property where he was camping --- was the Promised Land that would one day belong to his descendants.
Here’s how Genesis 15 starts: After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." Notice this verse starts with two words: After this … If you’re curious by nature, you’re probably wondering: After what? The answer to that question shows why the first thing God said to Abraham was, “Do not be afraid.” It turns out that Abram had good reason to be afraid!
1. Do not be afraid Genesis 15:1-7
You see, Abram had just returned from the battlefield. In fact, he had just won a great victory over 4 powerful Kings who had been terrorizing the area. Abram had some powerful enemies. He may have been wondering if those enemies would try to take revenge on him … some time when he least expected it. He was probably exhausted and he may have been wondering what he was supposed to do next. He may have felt a sense of let-down.
I don’t know why it is, but often we experience a big “let-down” right after a big success. You get a degree, or finish a project, or land a big promotion, or win a big award or make a big purchase --- you complete some major goal. And then you have that depressed feeling like “Is that all there is…?” That’s why young women are warned to expect some degree of “Post-natal depression” right after the birth of a baby. That’s why Retirees need to be ready for a sense of let-down after they are finally able to retire.
Abram may have been experiencing a kind of post-traumatic stress, like many Soldiers experience after a War. But for Abram, there was an underlying fear. God had protected him in the past, but would God continue to protect him in the future? That’s why the first thing God said was, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield …
2. I am your shield Genesis 15:8-16
This was exactly what Abram needed to hear. He KNEW what a Shield was. Remember that Abram had just returned from battle. He probably owed his own life to the strength of his Shield.
The shield is what absorbs the shock of the spear and sword. It repels even flaming arrows. Abram understood this better than we do … but we use all kinds of Shields in our lives today:
• You probably have a Shield on your computer that protects your hard drive from computer viruses that could contaminate it. On my computer the symbol for the virus protection is in the shape of a Shield.
• Antibacterial soap and cleaning products act as a Shield against germs.
• Sunscreen is a Shield against harmful ultraviolet rays.
• The bulletproof vest worn by law enforcement is a type of Shield
Imagine yourself as a Soldier about to go into battle. You know you may face machine guns and rocket-fire and bombs. Considering the kind of weapons Soldiers face today, God might say, I am your armored HumVee and your Kevlar vest.
And you might ask the same thing Abraham asked in verse 8: O Sovereign LORD … ummm how can I KNOW for SURE that you’re going to come through on these promises…?”
Abraham is known for his great FAITH. He’s called the Father of the Faithful. So it makes me feel better to see that Abraham’s faith was not perfect. Sometimes Abraham was afraid, and sometimes he had doubt mixed in with his faith. Doesn’t that describe your faith? I know it describes mine.
It also makes me feel better to see that God wasn’t angry with Abram for his fears and doubts. In fact, God did something pretty incredible to increase Abram’s confidence.
The LORD said to Abram, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." So Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other ... Genesis 15:9-10
You might be thinking, Uh, okay …. Abram cut a bunch of animals in half … how’s that going to increase his faith? It all sounds weird to us, but --- believe it or not --- God was giving Abram a very effective answer to his fear and doubt. This ceremony was familiar to Abram. It was the way men made Legal Contracts in his part of the world.
When men wanted to make a Binding Agreement, the two parties would slaughter some livestock and cut them in half, laying the halves across from each other. Then they would each state the responsibilities and rights of the Agreement. After that, they would join hands and walk in between the carcasses together.
Now, this ceremony wasn’t for little minor transactions. It was a sacred covenant --- a life and death sort of oath. The symbolism had two meanings.
• For one thing, it symbolized unity: We are closer than the right and left side of this animal. It was an idea like: “If you can’t trust family, then who can you trust?”
• Also, it showed the severity of the oath: If I break this covenant, may I be torn in two just as the animals were torn in two. Kind of like “Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”
It is amazing that God would condescend to bind himself with a Contract that was common to men but surely beneath his Divine Dignity. God could have told Abram, “My word never fails. My place is to be God. Your job is to believe what I tell you.” Instead, God entered into a Ceremony that would strengthen Abram’s FAITH.
But there’s more. And what happens next is the most important part. Starting in Genesis 15:12, we see that Abram waited near the animal carcasses for several hours. In fact, he had to shoo away the buzzards that were circling around. And then … finally … just as the sun sank beneath the horizon, Abram fell asleep. The Hebrew word used here refers to a deep sleep. (It’s the same word used when God put Adam to sleep and took a rib to create Eve.) In this supernatural sleep, Abram had a terrifying dream. The scripture says that "terror and great darkness fell upon him."
Abram saw the Vision of a Torch and an Incense pot going between the sacrificial animals. He saw this representation of God Himself walking between the Animal Carcasses. In a normal Contract, BOTH parties walked between the Carcasses together. It was significant that God did not require Abram to commit himself to the Covenant.
This shows that the Covenant was UNCONDITIONAL. It did not depend on anything Abram did. It could not be made null and void by anything Abram might FAIL to do. The Covenant depended on God and God alone.
Recently Susan and I met with our Financial Advisor and changed some Investments. We signed a big stack of papers (like you do for just about any legal transaction) and every paper we signed had to be signed by Susan and by me and by our Advisor. You’ve probably been through the same thing if you ever bought a house or t a car or if you took out insurance or applied for a loan. Every binding agreement is signed by both parties. And if either one fails to live up to their end, the Contract is null and void.
But God didn’t require Abram to sign on the dotted line. God signed both sides of this agreement. Listen to how the Apostle Paul described God’s promise to Abraham in Romans Chapter 4. (From The Message)
That famous promise God gave Abraham—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do…
If those who get what God gives, only get it by doing everything they are told to do, and filling out all the right forms, properly signed … that’s not a holy promise; that’s a business deal --- a contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print...
But (with God) there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God’s promise at that. … You can’t break it. … Romans 4:13-15 THE MESSAGE
I’ve heard people say that the God of the Old Testament is a God of Vengeance and the God of the New Testament is a God of Mercy. But that’s not true. If you really understand the Old Testament you see that God extended His grace and mercy in the Covenant he made with Abraham.
And God sealed his Promises with a real-life, God-to-man kind of Contract. But God wanted to give Abram much more than riches and real estate. In Genesis 15:1 God said, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, and your very great reward."
3. I am your very great reward Genesis 15:17-18
In the chapter before this Abram defeating four Kings.… As he was returning from that Victory, the King of Sodom offered Abram a huge reward in return for his victory. Abram told the King of Sodom, “I will not accept anything belonging to you so you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’” Genesis 14:23 No doubt God was pleased when Abram turned down blessings from the King of that wicked city.
In Genesis chapter 14, we also read that Abram gave a tenth of all he had taken in Battle. This is the first mention in the Bible of the principle of Tithing. In Tithing, Abram demonstrated his Faith. The same is true when we give to the Lord. When we give our tithes and offerings, we demonstrate our FAITH that it is GOD who provides for us.
God’s blessings made Abram one of the Richest men in that part of the world. But God wanted to do more than give material blessings. God wanted a relationship … a friendship … even a partnership with Abram.
In India, I discovered the Christians have a name for people who make a profession of faith just because they want to receive something from the Western Missionaries. They call them “Rice Christians.” The same kind of problem happens here in our country, too. Some people turn to God only when they want something. When someone gets sick or when they lose their job or when some other hardship hits, they suddenly get interested in God. But as soon as their needs are met, all that interest evaporates … until they face the next crisis, that is.
God’s words to Abram show that God is greater than the goodies He gives. He Himself is our greatest reward. To be able to have a close relationship with God … to be his friend and His partner … is the greatest reward anyone could hope to receive.
CONCLUSION:
Some of you may be at a time in your life where you are filled with fear and doubt … fear of what the future will bring … doubt about whether God will really be with you. How can you be sure that God’s promises will come true for you? Genesis 15:6 gives the answer: Abram believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness.” We receive God’s promise by faith … that is to simply believe what God says.
When you put your Trust in God, there is no need to be afraid. God will be your shield and your very great reward.
INVITATION
COMMUNION Meditation:
God has offered His Covenant to you and to me. Indeed, He’s promised us the Promised Land of eternity. Heaven lies before you. But sometimes Heaven seems a long ways off. If we are honest with each other --- most of us have doubt and fear mixed in with our faith.
We know we’ve been saved by faith, but still we wonder, “Is God’s gift really for me? Maybe I’ve been deceived. Maybe I’ve misunderstood something. Maybe I’ve messed up one too many times.”
Like Abram, we dare to ask God, “How can I KNOW that all these promises are really true?” In Abram’s case, he saw a Vision of a Smoldering Firepot and a Torch moving between the torn carcasses to seal the Covenant.
In our case, we look to the Cross. At the cross Jesus’ body was torn. The spikes, the spear, the crown, and the whip …all of them broke the body of Christ. The Smoldering Firepot of God’s justice met side by side with the flaming torch of His holiness there at the Cross.
Like Abram, we have no part to play in this Covenant. We are off to the side, watching in wonder. The Promise doesn’t depend on you and me. God has paid the full price. Because of that, we can KNOW that His promises are true.
Prayer
