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Genesis 15

The Book of Genesis
Chapter 15

Chapter Overview:

In this chapter we have a solemn treaty between God and Abram,
  1. A general assurance of God's kindness and good - will to Abram, ver. 1.
  2. A particular declaration of the purposes of his love concerning him, in two things.
    1. That he would give him a numerous issue, ver. 2 - 7.
    2. That he would give him Canaan for an inheritance, ver. 7 - 16.

15:1After these things -
  1. After that act of generous charity which Abram had done, inrescuing his neighbours, God made him this gracious visit.
  1. So innumerable, for so the stars seem to a common eye. Abramfeared he should have no child at all, but God tells him his descendents should be so many as not to be numbered.
  2. So illustrious, as the stars of heaven for splendour; for to thempertained the glory, Romans 9:4 .Abram's seed according to the flesh were like the dust of the earth, Genesis 13:16 , but his spiritual seed are like the stars of heaven.
15:6And he believed in the Lord - That is, believed the truth of that promise which God had now made him, resting upon the power, and faithfulness of him that made it: see how the apostle magnifies this faith of Abram, and makes it a standing example, Romans 4:19 - 21.He was not weak in faith; he staggered not at the promise: he was strong in faith; he was fully persuaded. The Lord work such a faith in every one of us. And he counted it to him for righteousness - That is, upon the score of this he was accepted of God, and, by faith he obtained witness that he was righteous, Hebrews 11:4 . This is urged in the New Testament to prove, that we are justified by faith without the works of the law, Romans 4:3 ,Gal 3:6, for Abram was so justified, while he was yet uncircumcised. If Abram, that was so rich in good works, was not justified by them, but by his faith, much less can we. This faith, which was imputed to Abram for righteousness, had newly struggled with unbelief, Genesis 15:2 , and coming off, conqueror, it was thus crowned, thus honoured.
15:7I am the lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees - Out of the fire of the Chaldees, so some: that is, from their idolatries; for the Chaldeans worshipped the fire. Or, from their persecutions.The Jewish writers have a tradition, that Abram was cast into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship idols, and was miraculously delivered.It is rather a place of that name. Thence God brought him by an effectual call, brought him by a gracious violence; snatched him as a brand out of the burning. Observe how God speaks of it as that which he gloried in.I am the Lord that brought thee out - He glories in it as an act both of power and grace. To give thee this land to inherit it - Not only to possess it, but to possess it as an inheritance, which is the surest title.The providence of God hath secret, but gracious designs in all its various dispensations: we cannot conceive the projects of providence, 'till the event shews what it was driving at.
  1. For the strengthening of his own faith. He believed, Genesis 15:6 , buthere he prays, Lord help me against my unbelief, Now, he believed, but he desired a sign, to be treasured up against an hour of temptation.
  2. For the ratifying of the promise to his posterity, that they also mightbelieve it.
  1. God appointed that each of the beasts used for his service should bethree years old, because then they were at their full growth and strength.God must be served with the best we have.
  2. We do not read that God gave Abram particular directions how tomanage these, knowing that he was well versed in the custom of sacrifices.
  3. Abram took as God appointed him, though as yet he knew not howthese things should become a sign to him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in continuing covenants, Jeremiah 34:18 ,19, where it is said, theycut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts.
  4. Abram, having prepared according to God's appointment, set himself toexpect what sign God would give him by these.
15:13Thy seed shall be strangers - So they were in Canaan first, Psalms 105:11 ,12, and afterwards inEgypt: before they were lords of their own land, they were strangers in a strange land. The inconveniences of an unsettled state make a happy settlement the more welcome. Thus the heirs of heaven are first strangers on earth. And them they shall serve - So they did the Egyptians, 1:13 . See how that which was the doom of the Canaanites, Genesis 9:25 , proves the distress of Abram's seed: they are made to serve; but with this difference, the Canaanites serve under a curse, the Hebrews under a blessing.And they shall afflict them - See 1:11 . Those that are blessed and beloved of God are often afflicted by wicked men. This persecution began with mocking, when Ishmael the son of an Egyptian, persecuted Isaac, Genesis 21:9 , and it came at last to murder, the basest of murders, that of their new born children; so that more or less it continued 400 years.
  1. That are old and healthful, not loaded with such distempers as makethem weary of life:
  2. That are old and holy, whose hoary head is found in the way ofrighteousness, old and useful, old and exemplary for godliness, that is indeed a good old age.
15:17When the sun was gone down the sign was given - The smoaking furnace signified the affliction of his seed in Egypt: they were there in the furnace of affliction, and labouring in the very fire.They were there in the smoke, their eyes darkened that they could not see to the end of their troubles. 2. The burning lamp speaks comfort in this affliction; and this Godshewed Abram at the same time with the smoaking furnace. The lamp notes direction in the smoke; God's word was their lamp, a light shining in a dark place. Perhaps too this burning lamp prefigured the pillar of a cloud and fire which led them out of Egypt. 3. The passing of these between the pieces was the confirming of thecovenant God now made with him. It is probable this furnace and lamp, which passed between the pieces, burned and consumed them, and so compleated the sacrifice, and testified God's acceptance of it, as of Gideon's, Judges 6:21 , Manoah's, Judges 13:19 ,20, and Solomon's, 2 Chronicles 7:1 . So it intimates,
  1. That God's covenants with man are made by sacrifice, Psalms 50:5 , by Christ, the great sacrifice.
  1. I have given the promise, the charter is sealed and delivered, andcannot be disanulled.
  2. The possession is as sure in due time, as if it were now actuallydelivered to them. In David's time and Solomon's their jurisdiction extended to the utmost of these limits, 2 Chronicles 9:26 . And it was their own fault that they were not sooner and longer in possession of all these territories. They forfeited their right by their sins, and by their own sloth and cowardice kept themselves out of possession. The present occupants are named, because their number and strength and long prescription, should be no hindrance to the accomplishment of this promise in its season; and to magnify God's love to Abram and his seed, in giving to that one nation the possession of many nations.
Read Genesis 15