Genesis Chapter 15

GENESIS 

CHAPTER 

15

1. After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield your reward shall be very great."

(Genesis chapter 15 verse 1)

As in the case of Abram God makes us the same promise. This is the promise that he is our shield that gives us the necessary protection against the forces of evil. God promises a positive outcome if we trust in him, however if we lower our guard against evil or refuse God's protection it is our responsibility 

2. But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"

(Genesis Chapter 15 verse 2)

It is understood that although God gives us one blessing after another if He does not satisfy our needs as we conceive them we are not fully satisfied. Moreover we tend to pose the pertinent question to God. Why do you give me many good things but not what I consider as need. However God always responds to our needs however our timing does not match with that of God. The big difference between humanity and God is that we focus on what we consider as a need while God sees also the short and long term positive and negative consequences of that need.

3. And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir."

(Genesis chapter 15 verse 3)


It is interesting how we are able to share our chalice of misery and longings with God our father. This reflects growth in our relationship with Him, one that is not based on fear but on love, faith and complete confidence.


4. But the word of the LORD came to him, "The man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir."

(Genesis chapter 15 verse 4)


On sensing our unbelief God is grieved to the heart and continues to insist that He is saying the truth. In order to sustain our belief God gives us tangible proof that as humans help to reflect his credibility.

5. He brought him outside and said, "Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."

(Genesis chapter 15 verse 5)


In his infinite knowledge of human nature God realizes that the issue of offspring meant so much to Abram as to all parents who strongly wish to have offspring but for some reason still cannot. God behaves in relation to Abram as a loving father. This is reflected by the fact, that God brought him outside gently and kindly like a loving father in his relationship with his son. God likes to have relationship with us. He is ready to make special time to meet us. God already knows us personally however, any relationship starts with the words yes or I do to have its beginning. God is always waiting with his hand outstretched.


6. And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

(Genesis chapter 15 verse 6)


According to verse six of the fifteenth chapter of the book of Genesis, Abraham although without understanding and maybe still with a lingering doubt believed that God would give him offspring in his old age, and make His promise possible. Abraham took God at his word. This is something that as Christians we should all do.


7. Then he said to him, " I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess."

(Genesis chapter 15 verse 7)


God reminded Abram that he was on the right track, following the correct voice and not that of his ancient nature or man created gods that could offer anything but his salvation. This was the God for whom Abraham had left his family to wander in the desert making the leap of faith.


There are moments in life, when life appears to be bleak and sad, God also reminds us that we are not rowing the boat by ourselves. Moreover God reminds us that He is in control and that He is aware of our sorrows and loves us so much that He is ready to save us from our situations.


8. But he said, "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it? 9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

(Genesis chapter 15 verses 8 to 9)


Although God in verse six of the book of Genesis accounted Abram's attitude as being one of righteousness, Abram still held lingering doubts. Although he believed in God his faith in Him was still in a state of development. This is reflected by the fact that Abram still asked God for proof, that His promise was true. Trust between God and man had not yet been established.


At times we would like to believe in God and His promises, however as humans living in a society that is strongly influenced by science and its methods, we are motivated to seek for proof to verify the assumptions of life before placing our trust in God. By time during our spiritual walk to God we will begin to use our brains, science and or philosophy of life to enhance our understanding and faith in God and not to prove if He and his ways are actually true. Our faith becomes one that seeks better understanding not one of seeking understanding in order to believe.


10. He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

(Genesis chapter 15 verses 10 to 11)


For some reason that is not important to this analysis, Abram performed the sacrificial offering according to the mentioned ritual. What is important is that Abram obeyed God's command and performed the rite according to the will of God to the letter.


12. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

(Genesis chapter 15 verse 12)


On reflecting the mentioned terrifying darkness could have had different connotations. During such dark moment God may have had revealed to Abram future terrifying moments such as the painful time that his descendants would experience in exile in Egypt and many more of such events, that ae enough to leave one disturbed in one's spirit.


At times either directly or by means of others, God reveals to us present, past and even future happenings that may have a strong impact on our future or even present time.


13. Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; 14 but I will bring judgement on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

(Genesis chapter 15 verses 13 to 14)


 On reflecting verses thirteen to fourteen reflect the possibility that during the period of darkness experienced by Abram God shared with Abram scenes from the future of his people. However God is positive in his feedback to humanity. Although he shares with us negative predicaments, He ends his message on a positive note. Along with many desolation's that we may experience God also gives us many moments of consolations. Therefore do not despair if currently you have been experiencing hard times, your salvation is close at hand because God has the situation under control and you will not experience more than you can bear according to God's criteria for your own good.


15. As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

(Genesis chapter 15 verses 15 to 16)


The relationship between God and Abram had developed greatly to the extent that God was able to share with Abram even future happenings and also give him the necessary instructions about his funeral arrangements. God is true in his declarations. He explains that all these happenings were not instant, but that they were to take place in the long run covering four generations. Abram had the choice of just believing to get God off his back, go along with the circumstances and or wait if eventually God would give him a son and then consider God's predicament as being true. This is also valid for us humans. We also follow the same pattern in our relationships with both God and our fellow persons.


17. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."


(Genesis chapter 15 verses 17 to 20)


In order to finalize the covenant between Abram and his future descendants God left his mark on the sacrificial offerings thus confirming in both words and deeds that what he had said to Abram would indeed take place in the course of four generations. God promised us a place near him in heaven. Before leaving earth, He promised us that He was going to prepare for us a place where we could dwell with Him in heaven and in faith we are to believe Him, however as in the case of Abram Jesus did not mention anything about the time of his second and final visit to earth to proclaim his loving justice on earth.


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:


Oh heavenly father thank your for revealing yourself to me by both words and actions, thank you for the promise of my salvation, thank you for going and preparing me a place in your presence. Moreover I would also like to thank you for the times of tribulations and even the consolations that you permit me to experience for my own good and that of my family. I wish that you forgive me for those moments when, I did not take you at your word, and showed doubt in you and your promise with me. Today I personally give you my present past and even my future and place it as an offering at your feet, so that you can bless it and take control over what is happening, what has already happened and moreover, what may happen in the coming future.

Thank You God