Genesis Chapter 15
We would never think of Abraham as being a man who had trouble with his faith in God. But there is clear evidence in scripture that he did. What I do notice about this patriarch of the faith is that when he struggled with his faith he talked to God about it. That is exactly what you and I need to do as well, talk to our heavenly Father when we are lacking in faith.
In this account God made it very clear to Abram that He had a promise and a plan for his life and his descendants. He did so by providing a visualization of His covenant with Abram and his descendants in a ritual usually reserved for those making a land contract or purchase. You could say that God literally “cut a covenant” with Abram.
In this chapter you will also see that God knows all things including bad things that will happen in the future as well as good things. Abram had the privilege of hearing about some of those things that God said would take place, and they did.
Let's Reflect
1. In the very first verse of this chapter what did God promise to be for Abram?
2. Because Abram and his wife were childless, Abram thought he was going to have to give his inheritance to his servant’s son. God made it very clear that it was not the case. How clear did God make it to Abram regarding who he would give his inheritance to?
3. What visualization did God give to Abram to help him see the plan that God had for his life?
4. Scripture says that Abram believed God. That is key. Abram didn’t just believe in God, as some people say they believe there is a God; but Abram believed what God told him. He believed God. What did God say about Abram because of his belief?
Romans 4:1-3What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
5. Abram was very familiar with the instructions that God gave him regarding the cutting of the animals in half. This was exactly how one would make a contract with another man regarding the sale of land. There was blood spilt to represent the serious nature of the contract. Abram fully expected God in some manner to make a physical appearance and walk through the line of cut animal halves with him. God had made a physical appearance previously. See Genesis 12:7. Did God come right away to walk through the animal parts with Abram?
6. What event did God tell Abram about that would involve his future descendants for 400 years?
7. God walked through the animal halves in a visual symbol of an oven and a torch. Was Abram also instructed to walk through the animal parts or did he just observe?
