Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I
am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
What we find in the opening of chapter 15 is that HaShem is Letting Abram know that He is the reason for Abram's new found life. That for all the faith Abram has shown, HaShem, is his reward. Does this mean that Having HaShem watch over Abram is all he will ever see? No, not at all. It tells us that Abram has by his faith, gained the reward of life.
Gen 15:2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house
is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram, here shows we shouldn't fear HaShem, in any way that may impend our willingness to talk to Him as we would a friend. If we feel that HaShem has not answered a prayer, or stud by His word, as Abram seems to think here, we should ask Him about it. After all, He won't get mad and strike us with lightning. If we turn to HIm, and His word, with any question He will lead us to the answer.
Gen 15:3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
Gen 15:4 And behold, the word of the LORD
came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
Just as HaShem answered Abram, He will answer us. The key to finding that answer, is simply to seek it in His word. Not giving into the teachings of man, rather to study His word for what it tells us. When I say the teachings of man, I do include myself in that. After all I am human, and I do make mistakes just like anyone that is honest enough to admit it.
Gen 15:5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Gen 15:7 Then He said to him, “I
am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
Gen 15:8 And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”
Once more Abram is asking, for an answer to something he doesn't fully understand. Giving to us an example of what we should do. His answer comes in the form a covenant. Not just any, rather a blood covenant.
Gen 15:9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Gen 15:10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
This is how a blood covenant was done. Though this is just one part, I will explain them as they are told to us in this chapter.
Gen 15:13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land
that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.
Gen 15:14 “And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
Gen 15:15 “Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age.
Gen 15:16 “But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites
is not yet complete.”
Here we see the second part of the forming of a blood covenant. Both parties name their end of the deal. As only HaShem has said what His end of the covenant would be, one can conclude that this was not a covenant of 2 parties. As Abram was asked to uphold any part of this covenant.
Gen 15:17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.
The 1/2's are placed side by side, with a path big enough to walk through, After giving, or naming their part in said covenant, both parties walk between the 1/2's. The blood that is their, stands as witness to their vows. The blood also binds them, forever. In other words, if 2 people form a blood covenant, they both pass on, that covenant is passed down to their kids, and grand-kids, forever. A blood covenant, shouldn't be broken. Barking one, is unheard of, and noone really knows what come of doing so.
Gen 15:18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—
Gen 15:19 “the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,
Gen 15:20 “the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
Gen 15:21 “the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
Once more, the parties to uphold the covenant, repeat their vow. The naming of nations here, is thought to be giving a fuller understand of just HaShem has vowed to give.
I will take this same teaching into the book of John tomorrow. In so doing I hope to show just what the gift was that given to us with the death and resurrection of Yeshua.