Genesis 15 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Genesis 15:1-6

1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

‘Do not be afraid, Abram.
    I am your shield,
    your very great reward.’

2 But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’ 3 And Abram said, ‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’

4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ 5 He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

A. Find Out:

1. How did God’s word come to Abram? v.1
2. What did the Lord say He was to Abram? v.1
3. What did Abram show he was still worried about? v.2
4. What did the Lord promise Abram? v.4
5. How extensive would the fulfilment be? v.5
6. Why did the Lord credit Abram as righteous? v.6

B. Think:

1. Read Romans 4:18-24. Why were the words in Genesis written for our benefit as well?
2. Why did God declare Abram righteous?
3. What is your understanding of the word “righteous”?

C. Comment:

The passage here in Genesis is a key passage to understanding our salvation. After the recent battle, perhaps because Abram might be worrying about retaliation from the kings, God comes and tells Abram that HE, the Lord, is his shield (or protection) and provider of blessing (v.1). Abram replies that he is still childless (v.2,3) and so the Lord reiterates His promise that Abram will have children (v.4,5).

It is then that we have the key scripture: “Abram believed the Lord and he (the Lord) credited it to him as righteousness.” (v.6) Our salvation comes through BELIEVING, not through acting. Actions follow belief, not the other way round! We are saved as soon as we believe. It is then that God declares us righteous, not AFTER we have done lots of good works. When we believe in God and put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, THEN, at that moment, God declares us righteous. Our works of goodness that follow, are the “icing on the cake”, they follow from what we have already become!

D. Application:

1. Thank the Lord that, if you have believed, He HAS declared you righteous.
2. Thank Him that you don’t have to strive to achieve His salvation. He gives it to you (see Eph 2:8,9) and all you can do is receive it and enjoy it.

Passage: Genesis 15:7-21

7 He also said to him, ‘I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.’

8 But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I shall gain possession of it?’

9 So the Lord said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.’

10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and ill-treated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterwards they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.’

17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking brazier with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates – 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.’

A. Find Out:

Note: In these times, it was the custom when a solemn covenant (agreement) was being made between two persons for animals to be cut like this and the two parties then passed between and made solemn vows.

1. What is the question that concerns Abram? v.8
2. In the light of the note above what was the Lord’s answer? v.9
3. What did the Lord say would happen to Abram’s descendants? v.13
4. But what did the Lord say He would then do? v.14
5. How long would it be before his family returned to the land? v.16

B. Think:

1. Who actually does the Lord promise will have the land?
2. When does He say they will actually have it?
3. Why do you think the Lord went to the trouble of carrying out the ritual of a solemn covenant? (Note: All fulfilled in Exodus, chapters 1-12)

C. Comment:

This is the third time that God has spoken to Abram about the land. (see also 12:7 – when he first arrived in the land & 13:15 – when he returned to the land from Egypt). Abram still needs reassuring about his future in the land and so, perhaps to ensure Abram will realise that God means what He says and also perhaps to ensure Abram won’t forget it, the Lord has Abram prepare the ritual of solemn covenant (v.9).

It is in the midst of preparing for this ritual that the Lord reveals to Abram what would happen to his future family-cum-nation (v.13,14). Abram falls into a deep sleep and a great darkness appears to come over him, presumably as he dreamt. In this most serious moment, he receives a revelation of what is to come in the centuries ahead.

When darkness fell, the presence of the Lord was indicated by fire passing between the two lines (v.17). The Lord has made a solemn vow He will never break! This has been an occasion Abram will not forget!

D. Application?

1. God knows our frailty and knows we constantly need reassuring when we are young believers. He does not despise us because of it.
2. When God says something, He means it! Thank Him that we can fully trust His word.
3. When God moves it is sometimes mysterious. Let’s not try to  remove some of His mystery.