Genesis 15

(Genesis 15:1-21): After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Gen 15:1).

What was Abram afraid of? Well, given the fact he just defeated four kings, there might be some military retribution from their respective nations. This wouldn’t have even been an issue had not Lot lived in Sodom and got carted off by Chedorlaomer; I think one of the reasons for this conflict was that God was reaching out to Lot. The only blood Abram had in that region was Sarai and Lot; he couldn’t afford to lose Lot to some greedy, petty pagan king, no matter how unwise his decision was to live among the Sodomites. Carnal believers never promote the kingdom of God only their selfish desires and ambitions, creating trouble for those who care about them 

God in compassion appeared to Abram in a vision addressing two things for his sake. First, I am your shield. God is his Protector and Defender. This goes back to the idea of I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse (Gen 12:3). Second, I am your exceedingly great reward. This has more to do, I think, with progeny rather than sustenance, which certainly was a part of it because Abram immediately asked the Lord GOD a question. 

What will You give me, seeing I go childless (Gen 15:2)? He already saw how God protected him going against the eastern confederacy of kings. But how was God going to make his name great if his bloodline died with him! The Lord never rebuked him for this question; it was a similar and legitimate question posed by the virgin Mary to the angel Gabriel. 

Abram reasoned with the Lord GOD, Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir (Gen 15:3)! Apparently, there must have been an ancient middle eastern custom if a man had no heir, the inheritance went to the elder servant, in which case was Eliezer of Damascus (Gen 15:2). What gave this question legitimacy was the age of Abram and Sarai. Abram was 75 (Gen 12:4) when he left out of Haran for Canaan; Sarai was 10 years younger (cf. Gen 17:17), already past childbearing years. 

What happens next is one of those “behold moments.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir (Gen 15:4)." To illustrate the exceedingly great reward God said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be. (Gen 15:5)." 

Abram’s response is the foundational truth of all ages that salvation comes by faith - And he believed in the LORD, and he accounted it to him for righteousness (Gen 15:6). This was the clarion call to all men by Paul and James. Abram became a believer when the God of glory first appeared to him in the city of Ur in Mesopotamia (cf. Gen 15:7); salvation is utterly amazing in its simplicity and profound in its consequences. Abram didn’t know how God was going to give him offspring as numerous as the stars, he just simply believed He would and could. 

To affirm to Abram that he will inherit this land of Canaan, the LORD confirmed it to him by resorting to an ancient eastern custom of that time where two parties enter into an agreement by dividing an animal in half and placing the pieces opposite of each other. Both parties would walk between the two pieces, symbolizing being bound to the contract and its fulfillment. The LORD was literally cutting a covenant with Abram. So Abram divided the animals in two as had God instructed (Gen 15:9-10) and kept watch over the emblems of the agreement that Abram would inherit the land while waiting on the LORD to appear (Gen 15:11). 

By sundown, Abram fell into a deep sleep and another behold moment came about, and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him (Gen 15:12). When Abram awoke, he was terrified, and the night was pitch black. No stars in the onyx sky were visible. How God made His presence known at first is unclear, but Abram was petrified. He was in the presence of God who was going to cut a covenant with him. The only light emanating out of the great darkness in the desert was from a smoking oven and a burning torch (Gen 15:17), passing between the pieces. 

God spoke to Abram whether before, during, or after the passing between the animal halves, and Yahweh made an agreement with him. But what Abram heard at the beginning was a little unexpected, but God was saving the best for last. Abram’s descendants will endure 400 years of harsh affliction as strangers in a foreign land. But God will judge the oppressor and deliver them (Gen 15:13-14). And here comes the good part, Abram's future role in all of this. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age (Gen 15:15). And his descendants shall return here (Gen 15:16) 

God revealed to Abram just how far the expanse of the land inheritance will be, to your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates (Gen 15:18); it didn’t matter if 10 nations or a hundred nations lived between the two great rivers. Abram's descendants will possess this land. 

Father, You walked through the pieces alone, signifying its fulfillment was entirely on You; Abram shared no joint responsibility in its fulfillment, confirming the nature of the covenant as unconditional and unilateral! How great is Your promise to man! Since You could swear to perform the pledge to Abram by no one greater, O LORD, You swore by Yourself!  

Awestruck, all Abram could do was stand still and watch as You passed between the pieces. This was how Abram knew he would inherit the land; it was visually burned into his brain; an awesome event he would never forget. Your walking between the divided animals and Your frequent use of the personal pronouns in reference to Yourself in the role You would play in Abram’s life amplified the quality of that promise. A promise is only as good as the one making it; You would personally make this happen - I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it (Gen 15:7)." 

Lord, Abraham died in faith not receiving the promise. He never settled in a city but wandered around Canaan living in tents for the next one hundred years after leaving Haran for a foreign land. Abraham never forgot that night in the desert when You walked between the pieces and confirmed the promise to him and all of his descendants. He was a pilgrim and a sojourner on this earth, waiting and looking for that city whose builder and maker is God. I am a spiritual descendant of Abraham, O Father. 

I often forget that I am a sojourner and a pilgrim, living in a foreign land that has animosity toward Christians. May I remain focused on the promises of God and maintain a good testimony in my journey here. You are my Shield and my Reward in Whom I trust. Thank you that the reality of this promise to come is not dependent upon the heirs for completion! <><