September 17, 2006
“The God of Abram: Our Shield and Great Reward”
Genesis 15
I. God’s gracious presentation of Himself to Abram – Genesis 15:1
1. This could be the pre-incarnate Christ presenting Himself to Abram – John 8:56-58
A. The Word of the LORD came to Abram - John 1:1-5
B. Saying – “Fear not” KJV or “Do not be afraid” NKJ is characteristic of Christ – Matthew 14:26-27; Matthew 17:4-7; Matthew 28:8-10; Mark 5:35-36; Mark 6:49-50; Luke 5:3-10; Luke 8:43-50; Luke 12:4-5; John 6:19-20; Revelation 1:17
C. “I Am” is also one of Christ’s great introductions of Himself: Genesis 15:1; John 6:35; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1 & 5
D. One of these “I Am” statements relates to Abram – John 8:58-59
E. All of them, including Exodus 3:14 present Christ or God as a Provider for our needs
2. Even if these words are not directly from Christ but are from God the Father they show us the remarkable unity between the goals and purposes of God and Christ – John 14:8-11; John 10:27-30
II. Abram’s gentle complaint about God’s providence – Genesis 15:2-3
1. We should not be quick to judge Abram about this but give him the benefit of the doubt, especially based on the integrity he had shown in Genesis 13-14
2. Abram is obviously not complaining about God’s general treatment, God has come to Abram – Genesis 13:2
3. Yet, he is remembering God’s promises - Genesis 12:1-2 &:7
4. Possibly even connecting these with redemption –Genesis 3:15
5. This would fit with an other worldly attitude – Hebrews 11:8-10
III. God’s glorious reiterated promise to Abram –Genesis 15:4-5
IV. Abram’s believing / justifying response – Genesis 15:6
1. God’s crediting Abram with righteousness seems to me to imply Abram did have some concept of redemption
2. Surely, faith in God, in His promises, is the way of salvation / justification – Habakkuk 2:4
3. Paul elaborates on this – Romans 4
V. God promises land also – Genesis 15:7
VI. Abram asks, “How shall I know …?” – Genesis 15:8
1. Maybe it was seeming too wonderful
2. Promise and providence were not matching
3. He would walk by faith not sight – Hebrews 11:8-10; which we are also called to do – 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
VII. God cuts a covenant with Abram confirming His promise with His LIFE – Genesis 15:9-21
1. The meaning of this is seen clearly in Jeremiah 34:18-20
2. Prophecy of Israel’s time in Egypt is here, even a time table and a description of the exodus – Genesis 15:13-14
3. God foretells Abram’s own end – Genesis 15: 15
4. His peoples return – Genesis 15:16
5. God symbolically passes through the pieces – Genesis 15:17
6. Making His detailed covenant promises to Abram – Genesis 15:18-21
VIII. These promises and more are applied to us –
1. Redemption through Christ is foreshadowed in Egypt – John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7
2. Abram inherited a land, we inherit salvation, heaven and blessings untold we are children of Abraham by faith in Christ – Romans 4; 2 Corinthians 1:20
