Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.
Genesis 15
1. After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a
vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy
exceeding great reward.
What happened in chapter 14?
Abram fights against the other kings
Abram turns down the rewards from the king of Sodom
I believe that God reassures Abram here. He tells him that he is his shield and his rewarder. He is his protecter and his supplier. Not only does he watch over him and keeps him but he also blesses him. He did not need the kings booty because he had God. The same is with us, when God is on our side then we are protected and provided for.
2. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go
childless, and the steward of my house [is] this Eliezer of
Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and,
lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
Abram had the same problem that many of us have. He was tring to think like himself and not God. He could not understand Gods plan as an heir. He knew his wife was barren and they had no children so how could he be the father of great nations without any children. According to the laws of the day with no child then the head servant would recieve all the inheritance this is why Eliezer is mentioned.
4 And, behold, the word of the LORD [came] unto him, saying,
This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of
thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
God reassures his promise that he made in chapter 12. There will be an heir and it will not be Eliezer but it will be from your own bowls.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward
heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and
he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
How was his seed to be numberless: Two ways
Physical-We see this in the childern of Israel to this day
Spiritual-We see this in the church
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the
righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being
uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that
believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might
be imputed unto them also:
Galatians 3:29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promises
Abram set a prime example of how to follow God. One that still stands today. Let us read verse 6
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Righteous-in right relationship to God and His will
Romans 4:1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining
to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to
glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it
was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Galatians 3: 6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are
the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham,
[saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
It was not by Abrams works but by his faith that he was blessed by God. How are we saved? Is it by works. What if it was who would get the credit? Does God owe us salvation? Does he owe us heaven?
7. And he said unto him, I [am] the LORD that brought thee out
of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall
inherit it?
God again reaffirms his Covenant, his contract with Abram. I will give you this land. But Abram is like us he says I want it in writing. God how do I know what you are saying is true. Not that I don't believe you but give me a sign. We are no difference. Without the word of God we would not believe him. With out the 66 books in this Bible we would not believe God. But God has written us a promise in his word of the Savior to come agian.
9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old,
and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old,
and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the
midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds
divided he not.
We see here that Abram obeys God. He begins to prepare an ritual. What happened was he tood a heifer, a she goat, and a ram and he split them in half laying one half on each side. There was probably a space between the two halves for a man to walk through. Then he took the birds and laid one on each side but did not split the birds. Now the custom was that to show a binding promise then two people would walk hand and hand between the animals. This would bind the contract that could not be broken.
11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove
them away.
We see that while Abram is waiting on God that the buzzards and the crows try to invade in and break up the sacrifices but Abram drove them away.
12. And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon
Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
Now the custom changes a little here. You see there was suppose to be two participates in this custom. Two equal parties but giving and receiving. But this was a different relationship on that could not be equal. One between God and man. Now I ask you what did Abram put into it? What was it that Abram contributed to this contract? Not really anything. All he had to do was believe. If Abram does not believe is the contract broken. Not the overall contract. Maybe between God and Abram. Now let me ask you something else. What did you contribute to God sending his son to die on the Cross. If you did not believe would Jesus still had died. God does all the work all we have to do is believe. Now we show our belief through works but look what God does. He provides. He is the rock and fortress oh how wonderful it is to know that God's salvation is not depended on us. Praise God!
13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall
be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve
them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge:
and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be
buried in a good old age.
16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again:
for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full.
God wanted to give the Amorites ample opportunity to turn to him. They were loved by him. God gives all ample opportunity to turn to him. Everyone has a chance.
17. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it
was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that
passed between those pieces.
What a wonderful picture we see here a smoking furnace and a burning lamp
Smoke as a symbol of the presence of the spirit of God. I believe this is how God filled the tabernacle with a cloud. I have heard of people talking about experiences with God and how smoke filled the air. Oh how wonderful it must be to feel the presence of God. Then we see a lamp. A light. Fire. Christ as the light of the world. But we see a covenant made here. God walks through the sacrifices.
18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying,
Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt
unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites,
and the Jebusites.
My covenant and my promise to you Abram is I will give you a land. Maybe not right now but in my time I will give you a land and a seed.
