Chapter Summary Genesis 15

This is a key chapter in the history of salvation. A childless, aged Abram believes God’s promise that a son of his own will be his heir. God credits Abram’s faith as the righteousness no human being has (15:1-6). So a trusting Abram will know his descendants will one day own all of Canaan (vv. 7-8), God enters into the most binding of ancient legal contracts, a “covenant of blood” (vv. 9-21).

 

KEY VERSE 15:6:

God attributes righteousness to the believer.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION:

Trust all God’s promises completely.

 

ABRAM’S HEIR.

Documents found by archeologists reveal that in Abram’s day a childless couple might adopt a servant, who would care for them in their old age, and inherit their estate. But if a son was born to the family, this right of the adopted servant was set aside (15:1-3).

 

ABRAM BELIEVED GOD (15:4-6).

The Heb. word here is `aman, in verb form means “to be certain.” It focuses our attention on the absolute trustworthiness of the object of Abram’s faith, and expresses Abram’s own firm conviction that God’s promise to him was reliable. Abram’s belief in God is held up in Scripture as an example of saving faith. Abram examined the circumstances, recognized the human impossibility of fathering a child with Sarai, and yet remained convinced that God could and would do what He promised. Romans 4:18-21 reminds us that a similar faith-won righteousness is credited to us when we too are “fully persuaded that God [has] power to do what He [has] promised” us in Christ.

 

“HOW CAN I KNOW?” (15:7-8)

Abram believed God for the impossible, that he would have a son. He wavered when God added that He would give Canaan to Abram’s offspring! We too may exercise a faith that brings us into personal relationship with God—yet fail to keep on trusting Him after! Let’s trust God with our salvation, and everything else!

 

IMPUTATION.

This is a theological term is rooted in the N.T. and is parallel of the phrase “credited to him for righteousness.” The Greek. word used to describe what happened here is  “to reckon.” In ordinary speech it was an accounting term that meant “to make an entry in the account book.”  O.T. and N.T. teach the doctrine of imputation that God looked in our account book, saw we were not righteous, but in grace chose to accept faith in Him in place of righteousness. Therefore, those who have a faith like Abram’s, God writes “righteous” over our accounts, and cancels the record of all our sins.

 

COVENANT.

The Hebrew word covenant has a wide variety of applications. Between two businessmen a “covenant” is a contract. In a country a “covenant” is a constitution. Between two nations a “covenant” is a treaty. The best single definition is, a “covenant” is a legally binding, formal expression of intent. In Abram’s time there were several types of covenants, including a covenant formalized by eating together such as the (covenants of “bread” or “salt”). However, the most binding of all covenants was the (covenant of “blood”) which was formalized by passing through the divided halves of sacrificial animals. It was this covenant God made with Abram. Heb. 6:13-20 explains it clearly for us. God wanted Abram, and us, to know that when God makes a promise, we “may be greatly encouraged.” God will never break His promises. He will never go back on His word. Several critical covenants are identified in Scripture: notably the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12), the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 19), the Davidic covenant (Psalm 89), and the New covenant (Jeremiah 30-31). Each covenant states God’s intentions clearly. Each covenant makes clear what God most certainly will do.

 

ABRAM’S DEEP SLEEP  (15:12).

Usually covenants were confirmed by both parties. This implied that each accepted obligations related to carrying out the intentions the covenant expressed. How significant Abram’s deep sleep becomes. God alone passed between the parts of the sacrificed beasts. Abram has no part in making the covenant, so nothing Abram does can cause it to be canceled. YOU AND I CONTRIBUTED NOTHING TO OUR SALVATION: JESUS DID IT ALL. ALL WE MUST DO, ALL WE CAN DO, IS PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD. HE WILL KEEP HIS COVENANT PROMISE TO SAVE US FOR JESUS’ SAKE.