Abraham (Genesis 15)

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Categories: Patriarchs

All was not well after Abraham’s great victory over the kings.
Abraham must have been worried because God showed up and said, “Fear not, Abram.”
Maybe Abraham thought the kings would try to get even with him.
God told him, “I am a shield to you; Your very great reward.”
Abraham did not need to fear the kings; God would protect him.
God would also reward him; he didn’t need the spoils of war.
Instead of being grateful, Abraham shouted, “What good are your gifts as long as I’m childless?”
With no son or heir, his estate would go to a servant in his household, Eliezar of Damascus.
This is the first time Abraham spoke to God, and he’s sort of yelling at him.
The law allowed Abraham to legally adopt a servant who would inherit everything and in return give him a proper burial. If Abraham had a natural son later on, this adopted son would be legally protected.
But God said, “This man shall not be your heir. Your heir will be a son coming from your own body.”
Then, God took him outside and told him to look up at the stars. “Can you count them all? That’s how many offspring you will have.”
Immediately, Abraham “believed the Lord.” And God “credited it to him as righteousness.”
“Believe” means to have faith in something or someone; it’s active trusting. “Righteousness” usually means “right conduct,” but here it probably means “right with God.” Because Abraham believed, God judged him as being “right with God.”
God credited righteousness to Abraham for believing Him even though none of the facts had changed.
Up to this point, Abraham had tried to solve the problem himself. Now he believed God’s promises, even though they were still unfulfilled.
Abraham was learning that God's delays were not denials.
Abraham had complained to God and then gave those concerns completely over to God. And God responded.
Then God reminded Abraham that He had been his benefactor, the one who had brought him out of Ur. He renewed the promise of land.
Abraham asked, “How will I know?”
God responded with a sign and a symbolic ceremony.
The form of this covenant was modeled after an ancient royal land-grant treaty. It was used when a king bestowed a gift upon a servant or vassal for some good deed.
Specifically, God told Abraham to bring three animals, each three years old (i.e. full grown), and two birds.
Abraham knew something about this ritual because as soon as he brought the animals, he cut them up and arranged them in pairs, one bird on each side.
The idea was that the person starting the covenant would pass between the animals, as if to say, “Like these animals, so may I be cut up if I break the covenant.”
God was letting him know that He was willing to enter into a covenant with him.
To Abraham, this meant that from now on, nothing could stand in the way of God's promises.
Abraham prepared the ritual and waited -- all day.
When it was dark, fiery elements of smoke and fire passed through the pieces – traditional signs of God.
Abraham did not pass through the pieces.
The one who passed through the pieces was the one making the promise.
Now, Abraham had solemn assurance that the promises were forever sure.

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