Lesson 12: Genesis 15

While there are no chronological markers in chapter 15, we learn in Genesis 16.3 that by that time Abram had lived in the land of Canaan for 10 years. Thus, a full decade had elapsed since the Lord made His wondrous promises to Abram, and while he had prospered materially (see Genesis 13.5-6), none of the Lord’s promises had yet been fulfilled. And since Abram did not yet have a son, their fulfillment remained nothing more than something to hope for. Genesis 15 may be best known for what we read of Abram’s faith in vs. 6, but the chapter isn’t about this man of faith, rather the chapter shows how God assured Abram through the making of a covenant.

Notes From The Text

• Vs. 1
  • The exhortation to “fear not” may be related to past events (famine in the promised land, the need to rescue Lot from foreign powers), but it is likely that the Lord is referring to the doubt in Abram’s mind regarding the fulfillment of the Lord’s promises (vs. 2).
  • Abram’s fear could be conquered through the knowledge that “I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Abram is exhorted to focus on the Lord, for His status as the shield is what would insure the fulfillment of the promised reward.
• Vss. 2-3, it is easy to see Abram’s words in these verses as lack of faith, but that is not necessarily the case. Abram knows the promises of the Lord (Genesis 12.1-3), but he’s struggling to understand HOW those promises were going to be fulfilled. Currently, the only option open to him seemed to be the adoption of a household servant (a common practice in families where there was no biological heirs). Abram’s plight is one shared by other faithful men and women of God (see Luke 1.34; Mark 9.24).
• Vs. 4, “your very own son” is literally “what will come out of your own loins”, thus any question that Abram would father a child was removed. Significantly for our study of chapter 16, the Lord had not yet said anything about Sarai.
• Vs. 5, see Genesis 13.16. The point of both passages was that Abram’s descendants would be too numerous to count. Significantly, Abram’s earthly offspring were counted (see Numbers 1.45-46). It is Abram’s spiritual offspring who are beyond number (Galatians 3.26-29).
• Vs. 6, we will say more about this verse below, but it is significant that this verse contains the first mention of both “belief” and “righteousness” in Scripture. This passage is of the utmost importance to the Christian (see Romans 4.9,22; Galatians 3.6; James 2.20-24).
• Vs. 7, see Genesis 12.7. Yet again, the promises of offspring and land were connected.
• Vs. 8, as we’ve already noted, Abraham was struggling to comprehend HOW the Lord would fulfill His promises. Abram believed that He would (vs. 6), but he couldn’t understand how.
• Vss. 9-10, as we see in vs. 18, the Lord was making a covenant with Abram. The purpose of the covenant was to give Abram assurance (recall his question was, “how am I to know…?”). The animals were killed and split and two to represent the binding nature of the covenant; both parties were pledging to uphold the covenant on penalty of death (see Jeremiah 34.18). Note: it is best to see God’s covenant with Abraham as being established in three stages; here, in Genesis 17 and with the final oath of the covenant in Genesis 22.
• Vss. 11-12, “The setting is sombre in every detail, partly no doubt to emphasize that the covenant must be carried through in the teeth of opposition (11) and by means of great judgments (cf. 13, 14). But the darkness, smoke and fire (12, 17), like those of Sinai, chiefly proclaim the ‘terror of the Lord’, the impact of holiness on sin; cf. Isaiah 6:3–5. Even the New Covenant would be inaugurated in darkness and earthquake (Matt. 27:45, 51).” (Derek Kidner)
• Vss. 13-16, connect back to vs. 8. There, Abram had asked, “how am I to know?” and now the Lord was stating that Abram could “know for certain”. Not only would the covenant offer assurance, but the fact that the Lord knew the details of what would happen to Abram’s family as He worked His purposes in them. The fulfillment of God’s promises would not occur in any way foreseen by man, but they would absolutely be fulfilled!
• Vs. 17, that the fire pot and torch represented the Lord are beyond doubt. Israel would have been familiar with God’s presence in fire (see Exodus 13.21). Significantly, only the Lord passed through the animal carcasses, however Abraham’s devotion to the covenant would be sealed with a different typer of “cutting” in Genesis 17.
• Vs. 18, because of unbelief, Israel would rarely possess all of the promised land. Perhaps the scope of the land is listed to emphasize that the true promised land wasn’t to be an earthly possession (see Hebrews 11.8-10).
• Vss. 19-21, the promised land was then in the possession of other peoples (see Genesis 10.15-19). Yet, these peoples were immoral and they Lord would bring His judgment on them once their iniquity was complete (see vs. 16).

Significance of the Covenant

We’ve noted the importance of covenants in earlier chapters (see Genesis 6.18; 9.9), but the covenant the Lord established with Abram would have even greater significance than the one signified by the rainbow. Let’s note a few outstanding features of the Lord’s covenant with Abram.

1. Covenants are founded on grace. Abram was powerless to bring secure the Lord’s promises on his own. He had no heir (vss. 2-3) and had no possession in the land. The Lord’s covenant was assurance that the Lord would make his descendants as numerous as the stars (vs. 5) and would take possession of the promised land (vss. 13-16).
2. Faith is the stipulation placed on man. God’s promises are the foundations of His covenants, but He often gives stipulations / commandments for man to follow in order to receive the promised blessings. Recall that vs. 6 contains the first mentions of “belief” and “righteousness” in the Scriptures. Righteousness is a covenant idea, i.e. righteousness is fulfilling the requirements of a covenant (see Deuteronomy 6.24-25). Abraham’s faith in the Lord was the requirement of the covenant; it’s how he was declared righteous. This is Paul’s argument in Romans 4 and Galatians 3; Abraham didn’t secure the blessings of the covenant through the Law, but through faith in God, the very same way we receive the blessings of Christ. However, faith in God does not mean Abram was free to disregard the commands of God, rather his faith was what prompted him carefully follow all the Lord commanded (see Genesis 17.1-2; James 2.22-24).
3. Covenants are ratified by death. Animals were killed for the Lord to enter His covenant with Abram (vss. 9-10), but we will note how a greater offering would be required to secure the covenant in Genesis 22. Israel’s covenant with the Lord was also ratified by death (see Exodus 25.4-8). Of course, the greatest covenant would require the greatest death to ratify (see Hebrews 9.11-18).