Genesis 15
Pastor Mark Hudson
Moses is presented as a prophet in Genesis 15. “The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision” which is the phrase the Bible uses when a prophet hears from God. Abram is viewed as a prophet here because soon, in verses 12ff, God is speaking to Abram about the furture. So, Abram’s prophetic credentials must be defended.
Up to this point, God has been speaking to Abram but this is the first time Abram has spoken to God. Abram speaks rarely to God (15:2-3, 8; 17:18; 18:23-33; 22:11). The reason for his speech here is what perplexes many people in the Bible, “What is taking so long?” or “What you say and what I see do not match up.” God has been saying He will bless Abram with children. In 12:2,”And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great. . . .” In 12:7, “To your offspring I will give this land.” In 13:15-16, “for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.”
Abram is justifiably confused. You have made all these promises but Sarai is not pregnant. How can this ever be resolved. Abram (and Sarai later) think of other plans. Abraham suggest Eliezer. But God rejects the offer of help and tell him in no uncertain terms that Abram will have a son. This conversation must have taken place at night since God shows him the stars and simply said, “So shall your offspring be.”
The comparison so Abram’s offspring and the stars of the sky begins in14:22 and continues in 22:17; 26:4; Ex. 32:13. This is rather easy to understand but clearly difficult for Abram to comprehend since he had no children of his own. This is a considerable moment of tension between God and Abram. All God wanted Abram to do is trust Him.
Trusting God is exactly what Abram did. In face, all Abram did was believe. He did not sacrifice, obey a law, get circumcised, or promise fidelity to God. All Abram did was believe. Abram trusted in the goodness of God. In the New Testament, this is the reaon why Paul used Abraham as an example of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. See Paul’s argument in Romans 4 and Galatians 3.
It is after Abram believes that “he (God) counted it to him as righteousness.” The Bible teaches here as clearly as it can that we are counted or reckoned righteous by God through sheer grace. We receive that grace by faith but that faith earns us nothing. Faith in God is the only way to receive His grace. Believing in God’s Son does not make us righteous but God declares us righteous. That is justification. The process of becoming more Christ-like is sanctification. In justification we only receive his righteousness by faith. But in sanctification we work with the Holy Spirit to become more holy.
The discussion with Abram is not over. God reminds Abram that it was God who brought him out of Ur, by calling and protection. God reminds Abram that He brought Abram our of Ur to “give you this land to possess” (v. 7). Again, in v. 8, Abram speaks. This just does not seem feasible to Abram. God instructs Abram to prepare a sacrifice. As the animals are halved, birds of prey come down signaling an ominous time ahead for the chosen seed (v. 13) but also God’s proctection with Abram driving them away. God alos promises judgment on Egypt (v. 14).
In verse 12, Abram falls into a deep sleep. When God gives a vision, often the prophetic vision is reveale in the person’s sleep, when the individualis passive and more easily receives God’s message. God enters into a covenant with Abram (v. 18). Verse 17 is somewhat of an enigma. Some think this symbolism means that if this covenant will be broken only if God Himself can be dismembered like the animals. This comes from Jer 34:18, “The men who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and tehn walked between its pieces” and a treaty between Ashurnirari V of Assyria and Mati’ilu of Arpad, “If Mati’ilu sins against (this) treaty made under oath by the gods, then, just as this spring lamb, brought from its fold, will not return to its fold, . . . alas, Mati’ilu . . . will not return to his country” (ANET, p. 532).
It may be that by the symbolism of v. 17, God is uttering a self-imprecation. It is difficult to determine what v. 17 points to exactly. But God is giving certainty to Abram. All this is pointing to the exodus, Sinai, and what God will eventually accomplish in Christ. The events in the Bible do not just happen but rather are promised, planned, and executed by the sovereign will of God.
Our holy Father, we are constantly in awe of Your promises, covenant, and faithfulness. Why would You ever be so kind and giving to people like Abram, Isaac, and Jacob? Why so giving, forgiving, and compassionate to those You have made Your people? Especially when we are often turning away from You, spurning Your instructions, and rejecting Your perfect will, yet You still give, protect, and provide. You are tenderhearted to us and we remain stiff necked and hardhearted.
Forgive our many sins, restore us to Yourself and fill us with Your powerful Holy Spirit. Instruct us, guide us and open our eyes to both Your just judgment and patient mercy. We remain in Your strong hands. In Christ’s majestic name. Amen.