The Abrahamic Covenant
May 3, 2024
Commentary
We need to keep in mind that the context of this chapter is soon after Lot has gone back to Sodom. Abraham was wondering whether his efforts to rescue and restore his backsliding nephew had been totally useless. Now God comes to Abraham to discuss some family affairs:
I. The building of Abraham’s family (vv. 1-7).
A. God’s Power in His Word. It was to be by spiritual power and not by the flesh.
1. God’s pledge (v. 1). God said, “Fear not you still have me.”
2. Abraham’s plea (vv. 2-3). Abraham reminds God that if anything happens to him, a mere servant will become his heir.
3. God’s plan (v. 4). He says that a son will come to be Abraham’s heir.
B. God’s Power in His Witness (vv. 5-6). There are more stars than grains of sand.
C. God’s Power in His Work (v. 7). Abraham suddenly stopped and turned toward Canaan.
II. The basis of Abraham’s faith (vv. 8-12). Abraham could not understand Calvary completely, but in some small way he came to understand the misery of it (vv. 11-12).
III. The brightness of Abraham’s future (vv. 13-21). Abraham learns about:
A. The specific time involved (vv. 13-16): Not one hour before justice is accomplished.
1. Included the permissive will of God (vv. 13-14).
2. Included the personal will of God (v. 15).
3. Included the preordaining will of God (v. 16).
B. The specific territory involved (vv. 17-21): Abraham’s seed will get the land
1. A guarantee of the land promised (v. 17).
2. The greatness of the land promised (vv. 18-21). A binding covenant with Abraham
Application
Nothing will stop God from accomplishing His perfect will in my life. His timetable may not be the same as what I desire, but I need to claim His promises for He knows what’s best for me.
Genesis 15:1– 21 (NET)
1 After these things the Lord’s message came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”
2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram added, “Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!”
4 But look, the Lord’s message came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars—if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.”
6 Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.
7 The Lord said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it?”
9 The Lord said to him, “Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. 11 When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years. 14 But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”
17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts. 18 That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River— 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
Illustration: God Provides Our FinancesOur Health And Everything we Have
There have been times when we have gone to a high school basketball game and the kids asked for some money to buy candy. I gave them $5 and they returned with some candy. I ask for a piece and their answer is “no.” Here is what they don’t realize. I gave them the money in the first place, I paid for the candy so really it is mine. Now look at this from God’s view when He blesses us with His power and everything else for that matter.1st – He has the power to take it all away if and when He wants to. 2nd – He gives us everything. 3rd – He can supply endlessly. This goes for our finances, health, and His power. He supplies power to the believer endlessly if we seek Him. (Danny Rogers – Sermon Central).