Genesis 15:1
'After these things' was after the war with 4 kings and the encounter with Melchizedek. It was a lot of excitement all at once. Then, the Lord came to Abram in a vision and told him not to be afraid. The implication is that Abram was afraid and the Lord is speaking to comfort him. What was Abram afraid of? He had defeated the 4 kings and chased them to Hobah, but they were killed. Abram understood there was a very good chance they would come back after him. This was a major event in Abram's life. When the adrenaline had worn off, Abram realized what he had done and the circumstances in which he now stood. He was one man with a family and some faithful servants. He had succeeded where five kings and their army had failed. The new normal for a while might be looking over his shoulder, wondering if today was the day they would come back around.
Abram was human. All the promises of God fade quickly when our flesh is threatened. Our instincts are to protect our self at all cost. Courage is our ability to overcome instincts in spite of the flesh. When we are threatened our brain sees only a few options:
- Fight – self-preservation: someone's going to get hurt and your brain determines its not going to be you!
- Flight – Fighting might end bad, I have time to run away, to hide, to safely escape.
- Freeze - Your brain determines you can't win by running or fighting. Freezing is likened to playing dead. As in, "I'm safe here and now, moving might end bad." (Seen on Pacific islands in WWII; soldiers stayed in bomb crater during gun fire and bombing instead of moving forward to safety.)
- Fawn – This is to surrender, to align with the enemy, or at least stop resisting. Picture an abuse victim who no longer fights back; fighting back makes it worse.
However, God expands the options from fight, flight, freeze or fawn by adding a fifth option. It was really the only good option and that was 'Faith'. The man of God wasn't to be driven by instinct, emotion or fear; he was to be driven by faith.
Samuel saw it like this:
31 "As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord's word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
33 It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights. (2 Samuel 22:31-34)
The spirit of fear can dig its hooks into us so quickly as we are distracted with life and circumstances. When we drop our eyes from the Lord for just a second the spirit of fear can take over. Without the Lord, there is much to be afraid of.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
In Christ, we have a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. The statement Paul makes to Timothy sets fear as an opposite to power, love & sound mind. Fear is being powerless, self-focused and unstable in thought. Fear was bearing down on Abram when God delivers this encouragement; but then he added an "I Am" statement.
- I AM your shield.
- I AM your great reward.
The word from which 'shield' is translated is the noun form of the word Melchizedek used in the verb form in 14:20 for 'delivered'.
Abram was afraid of the enemies that could come after him. Maybe afraid he offended the kings of Sodom. And where is Lot? Silent, not on the scene. Embarrassed? What would worry change about any of this? Was anything out of God's reach or ability to protect, guide, control? God was a shield Abram could trust in. The Lord made a promise that couldn't come true if Abram's life was threatened. In the same way, Abram had just turned down the earthly rewards from the king of Sodom. Probably significant wealth. God informed Abram that He was a greater reward than anything the world offered.
My defense is of God, (Psalm 7:10)
God is a shield. (Psalm 84:9)
The Psalms are full of this type language.
Genesis 15:2-3
Abram still had no son when God had promised many would come from him. The promise that his offspring would be many, that they would inherit the land and that the whole world would be blessed by Abram, carried little weight at the moment. Abram confesses he believes the promises and trusts God, he just doesn't see how this would happen. Would it surprise us if he said, "God, you realize I'm an old man and my wife is also old and barren." Abram acknowledges God being his shield and reward, but shield for what purpose? What reward could there be if there was no child of promise?
Abram, the man of faith, speaks to God like a man who has concerns and doubts. But where else would you take your doubts? God said His ways aren't our ways. Like any parent to a child, He knows there are times when His children don't understand His ways. We need to see the vast difference in doubt creeping in among God's children and the unbelief of those chasing other gods. Abram wants to have faith, but he just can't imagine it happening.
God was promising a great offspring and that Abram's descendants would be a great nation. Abram had no heir, so Eliezer, his faithful servant, would be his only descendant. We can be sure Abram felt as though he had done something wrong.
Genesis 15:4-5
This passage really speaks to me. Abram had already had a promise from God that he would have descendants. We see the Lord's grace and love when 'the word of the Lord came to him.' We often see these moments as something rare and only happening to bible characters. However, the Bible is alive, God's word active and powerful in our lives today and every day. The word of the Lord can come to you in many ways every day. When you need to hear from Him, open your bible and let Him speak! This word is God's provision for our life. It's odd how many pass on it. God told Abram in verse 1 that He was his shield and exceedingly great reward. Abram knew that, but he needed to hear it again at that time and under those circumstances.
God knows what we need. His word speaks to us, ministers to us and encourages us. How many times do we hear and read the promises of God and then turn around and doubt and lose faith? God is good, He doesn't lose patience with us. He reminds us of his promises and then confirms them in our life.
Abram is getting to be an old man. He doesn't have an heir and he's having doubts. And again, God tells him he will give him an heir. Not a spiritual heir or some kind of substitute, but an heir from his own body. In fact, God says, step outside and look at the stars. That's how many descendants you'll have.
Just imagine what Abram saw when he looked up. You know it was one of those awesome nights where every star was visible. What did Abram think when he looked up and saw the thousands of stars? What about the stars he couldn't see because they were so distant? Scientists say that there are more stars than grains of sand on every beach in the world. What a great picture of the extent of the promise God is making. God isn't just going to give him a son. He is making his family a nation.
God is good to His promises. We know that, but it's always nice when we get a word from the Lord that tells us again to remember what is promised. Stand on the promises. Trust Him.
Genesis 15:6
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4)
Faith righteousness was nothing new with Abram. It's not only been around since the beginning, it is, in a sense, the foundation of the beginning of all we see. The worlds were spoke into being by God. The things we see were constructed by the invisible, yet very real, God by His Word.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for:
- The internal longing for something better.
- The indescribable yearning we have to be reunited with our creator
- The hope for a day when the affects of sin cease.
- The craving for true justice.
- The unspoken longing for a clear conscience, to be washed clean
- To step into eternity and worry no more about time, age
- And so, so much more.
These are all wrapped together in our belief. Since we have this belief, it is evidenced in our life. Faith is seen in the way we live our life, the way we respond to life and the way our lives end. James addressed this in James 2; faith without works is dead (faith). A faith that is alive produces works.
Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble. (James 2:18-19)
Belief is evidence by our walk.
Abram believed God. He didn't just believe in God, he believed God and it was credited to him for righteousness. Abram had just been afraid a few verses back, completely void of belief. There was no righteousness in him. Now he stood before the Lord and believed and the Lord credited him with righteousness. Abram didn't refine his walk, improve himself or work his way up to righteousness. It came to him by faith in God. Many times, God has to bring us down to a place where we are looking to Him and not ourselves. When we are broken, when we are brought low, our eyes, heart and spirit are open and searching for God.
This righteousness Abram received had nothing to do with Abram. He didn't earn it, he didn't deserve it, he came to it by God. His faith in the promise of God was rewarded with righteousness from the Almighty. This is the gospel message. This verse is the first use of the word 'believe' and the first use of the word 'righteousness' in the bible. Isn't it cool they are used together in the same verse? Paul references this verse in speaking against works righteousness in Romans 4:1-4. Our righteousness comes by faith in the completed work of Christ. Abram believed in a future promise. We have the luxury of believing in the one who already came.
See also: Romans 4:1-3; Romans 4:9-10; Romans 4:19-24; Galatians 3:5-7.
Genesis 15:7-8
God reminded Abram that He was the one who brought him to this place where he would inherit the land. God had just declared Abram righteous because he believed the Lord. Now, one verse later it is as if Abram is asking God to prove it. He asks God, "How do I know I will inherit it?" Again, we see hints of doubt in the conversation with God. This should give us comfort and confidence that we can voice our doubts to the Lord. Yes, we are saved by faith in God, but "Lord, I don't understand what's happening?" Or, "Lord, fear is creeping in, please give me Your peace and assurance."
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24)
How many times have we all trusted the promises in one moment and struggled with doubt the next? Every day is full of opportunities to train our mind and heart to look to Him and say, "Lord, I trust you" and then walk in that trust and belief?
Hebrews (6:17-18) speaks of Abram's promise being confirmed by two unchanging things; God's promise and His oath. Neither have ever failed. We can trust in the same unchanging God.
Genesis 15:9-11
In those days, this was a treaty, contract or covenant. It was nothing new; the expression to 'cut a covenant' came from this type of scenario where animals were literally cut for the two parties to walk between in agreement. God answered Abram's question of 'how can I know?' This was an honest plea by Abram asking God to help him allay his doubt.
God initiated the covenant asking Abram to prepare the animals. Normally, the idea was that the two parties would pass between the two parts of the carcass. This was a blood covenant; by doing this, each party was saying, "If I break the covenant, I will end up like these animals!" It was pledging a life and death seriousness. (See also Jeremiah 34:17-20)
It is an interesting note that the vultures came down. and These unclean animals swoop in to interrupt the cutting of the covenant. Abram drives away the birds. This seems to be a glimpse of the enemy's evil attempts to steal and interrupt the promises of God to His children. The word used for 'drove them away' means 'blow' or exhale hard. It's used 3 times:
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass. (Is 40:7)
18 He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. (Psalm 147:18)
It is a strange and interesting choice of words. Did Abram make a blowing sound to scare them away? Does it show the authority and power to disperse and scatter the enemy that would come and steal your promise?
Note: Very similar language is seen in Matthew 24:28: For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. It is thought this verse meant that a presence of the corpse indicated a carcass like the end time events go with the coming of Christ. But this coming of Christ is related to the promise and covenant with Abram. Are these verses to be connected?
Genesis 15:12-16
God gave Abram the confirmation of the promise, as if to say, "This is how you can know!" He could 'know for certain' these things. God gave Abram a 400-year overview of his descendants. The nation would be in the incubation of servitude in Egypt while the sin of the Amorite reached full measure. God's timing was perfectly coordinated. He would show Himself mighty to save them, lead them out of bondage and into the Promised Land. He would reveal Himself through them.
Would you be impressed with a promise God made for your family 400 years from now?
Genesis 15:17-21
God passed through the pieces without Abram. The smoking oven and burning torch are how God appeared to Abram. God later appeared in a pillar of fire and a burning bush. When God appeared and moved among men, it involved fire and earthquakes and trumpets. Fire nearly always is associated with judgment and justice of a holy God. God confirmed His covenant on His holiness, immutability and sure promise. This covenant wasn't based on Abram doing anything; it was a unilateral covenant. God, present in the fire, passed through by Himself showing this covenant would be fulfilled by His goodness.
God gave the land to Abram's descendants. There is no expiration date on this promise. God never took it back, in fact, He confirmed many times the land is theirs. On May 14th of 1948 Israel once again became a nation. They returned to the land God gave them. This was the dry bones of Ezekiel 37 coming to life (Ezekiel 37:11-14). How can a nation disappear from existence and then be reborn again? Nations come and go; dictators, kings, and conquerors bring nations to prominence and they are later conquered by others, or fade away over time. However, Israel seems to be this foundational element. No matter what is said, what happens on the surface or transpires in the short term, behind the veil of this reality, that land is the Promised Land given to Israel by its creator. This, no one can argue. Keep your eyes on Israel, specifically Jerusalem, and you will see God do amazing thing in the days to come.
©2019 Doug Ford
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