# 50 2022 Dev. Ge.15:6 Righteousness! Read all of Ch.15 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ge.15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Chapter 15 is a pivotal chapter for Abram, for the rest of the world and for followers of Jesus today. Here we start to see God’s plan for His people, for the world and for all of Abram descendants, all those who call upon the name of the Lord.
Vs.1-6 After the event of Melchizedek, “the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, (a) your very great reward. (b)” (see notes) Is God speaking to us as well? Yes, Abram was the messenger. All the families of the earth will be blessed through him, we are messengers as well, those we contact are blessed. Abram believed God, his faith, we all are saved by faith, not by works but by the Grace and work of Jesus.
But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I remain childless…” Abram’s faith did not ignore the fact that Sarai was barren. He asked God about it, God said no, not Eliezer but your own flesh and blood will be your heir. Abram believed God, even though Abram believed he still questioned God. Faith does want to see. God told him to look up, can you count the stars? No. “So shall your offspring be”
Vs,7-11 He also said I brought you here to this land for “you will take possession of it.” But, Abram again needed to see. The Lord said, “bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” These animals are what was the prescribed sacrifices to God after being released from Egypt. What do we sacrifice? “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Ro.12:1) Abram, following God’s instructions, cut the animals in half but not the birds.
Vs.12-16 At sunset, Abram fell into a deep sleep. Then God told Abram what was to happen for four more generations to Abram’s offspring. Slavery and oppression but in the end God sets them free and points them to the land promised to Abram. That promise is the foreshadowing of our own salvation in Jesus Christ, including the promised land, the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Vs.17-21 after dark, God himself, represented by a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch passed through the slain animals, making a covenant with Abram, “to your descendants I give this land. We are the descendants of Abram, we are set free from sin and are saved by the grace of God, through Christ Jesus, Abraham’s descendants not yet born then but living in our hearts now. Thanks be to God!
Heavenhigh 