Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr.

We continue our study in the life of Abraham, coming to Genesis 15, one of the most important chapters if we are to understand the nature of the covenant that God made with Abraham. It is a covenant that, I believe, is still binding today, and has profound implications for any settlement of the Middle East problems. So, I invite you to open your Bibles to Genesis 15 and explore it with me.

Genesis 15

Key Words: "covenant"

Key Verse: Verse 6 states that Abram believed the Lord. I don't think he understood what God had promised him, but he believed it anyway. There is a lesson there for us as well.

Purpose Statement: This chapter demonstrates the faithfulness of God to Abram. What amazing promises were given to him!

Outline: God's Promises to Abram

I. The promise concerning descendants (vs. 1-6)
II. God's promise about Israel's history (vs. 7-16) [This was to involve slavery, then deliverance.]
III. Covenant concerning the land (vs. 17-21)

Thoughts to Ponder: A covenant is a binding agreement between two individuals. When two people speak their wedding vows a covenant is formed between them. Verse 18 states that God made a covenant with Abram. The Hebrew word literally means "to cut a covenant." This act is described in verses 10 and 11 as Abram divides the animals in half and lays their carcasses opposite each other with an aisle between them. Then, in verse 17, the presence of God passes down that aisle in the form of a smoking pot and a blazing torch. This act was God's seal that this covenant was all of God. God initiated a covenant with Abram. In fact, the responsibility for the fulfillment of the covenant rested with God. He stated, "I will...." And God keeps His covenantal promises. Abram has long since died, but that covenant God made that day with him is still effective for his descendants. What an awesome God who keeps His promises to generation after generation!

Four truths about Abram's offspring are discovered in this chapter. First, the offspring would be the fruit of Abram's own body. They would be bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh (verse 4). Second, Abram's descendants would be as numerous as the stars of the heavens, in other words, there would be a lot of them (verse 5). Third, difficult times would be the lot for Abram's descendants, in fact, they would face slavery. Yet God would bring them deliverance (verse 13). Fourth, a land, specified by God, would be a gift to Abram's descendants (verses 18-21). This land further clarifies God's promise given in Genesis 13:14-15.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. (Benjamin Franklin)

Genesis 14 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 16