The “word of the Lord came” is a frequent phrase (102 times) to denote God revealing His will to a prophet and Abram is considered a prophet in 20:7. The phrase is used in Genesis only in this context (verses 1, 4). We are not sure if the entire chapter falls under the category of “vision” or if only the first few verses, perhaps through verse 4 or 6, are the “vision.”
God commands Abram not to be afraid (cf. Isaac in 26:24 and Jacob in 46:3). There are several contextual reasons why Abram could be afraid, such as having just fought a war, or having turned down the king of Sodom’s gifts. In verse 12, terror will fall on Abram as a part of this covenant ceremony and, perhaps, God is preparing Abram for this experience. Otherwise, the likely reason is because he is still childless and he fears dying childless (cf. Num. 27:4). God tells Abram that He is Abram’s “shield” (a related word with “deliver” in 14:20). God will protect Abram and give Abram a “great reward.”
Abram’s hesitancy comes through as he brings up his childlessness and his statement in verses 2-3 is one of exasperation. The one who is currently in line to receive Abram’s wealth is the servant from Damascus, Eliezer. He is referred to as “son” only in the sense of belonging, if not affection.
God assures Abram that one will come from Abram’s own seed who will inherit the promise. Count the number of times “seed” occurs in this context. That was encouraging, no doubt, even if it heightened Abram’s questions. Jehovah God takes Abram outside, whether literally or in the vision, and shows him the stars in the sky. God had already promised Abram that his seed would be as numerous as the dust of the earth (13:16; cf. 28:14). Now he says the seed will be as numerous as the stars in the sky (cf. 22:17; 26:4). He will also use the sand of the seashore as a simile (22:17; 32:12). Jehovah God challenges Abram that if he could not count the stars, so he would not be able to count his seed! Another encouraging statement, to be sure!
Then the fundamental message of the Bible when it comes to man’s response to God’s promises is found in 15:6: Abram believed God and God considered Abram “righteous” on that account. In fact, this is the first use of the verb “to believe” or even the word family (such as “faith”). The verb is only used twice more in Genesis (42:20; 45:26). Abram has already shown himself to be an obedient servant. Now, when it comes to having children, despite his advanced age and the advanced age of his wife, Abram trusts God’s message. Based on that faithful walk, God considered Abram right in His eyes.
Jehovah God reminds Abram that He was also going to give him the land; that’s the reason God brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans. Abram wishes to know more assuredly that God would fulfill His promise. So in verse 9, God prepares Abram to make a covenant with him. These animals, based on the later Law of Moses, were clean animals and, at three years old, mature animals.
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APPLICATION:
Contemporaries in the text – Remember, Abram came out of a pagan environment (cf. Josh. 24:2) and was 75 years old when God first spoke to Him. This whole “relationship with God” thing is new to Abram. God promised him years ago that he would have a family, but he does not. Up to now, he has no permanent home either. Abram has been doing what God tells him to do, but so far, God has not given what He has promised.
Contemporaries in Moses’ day – Moses will often remind Israel of the promise of land which God gave to Abram (Exo. 6:4, 8; 13:5, 11; 33:1; Num. 10:29; 11:12; 14:23; 32:11; Deut. 1:11; 10:22; 28:62). Moses will also remind Israel that God promised the nation would be numerous (Exo. 32:13). Moses refers to God as the shield of Israel’s help in Deut. 33:29.
Later Hebrew writers – Speaking of God as a “shield” is also used in 2 Samuel 22:3, 31 and in the book of Psalms to illustrate God’s ability to defend His people (3:3; 28:7; 33:20; 84:9-11; Prov. 30:5). Israel’s numbers being as many as the stars of heaven is referred to in Neh. 9:23; as many as the sand of the sea in Jer. 33:22; 1 Chron. 27:23. David will reflect Genesis 15:6 in Psalm 32:2, praising God for not “counting” his iniquity against him.
NT writers – The promise of land given to Abram sets the tone for Stephen’s review of Israel’s history in Acts 7:2-4. Abram’s faith in Jehovah God is a paradigm for Christians’ faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:3, 9, 22). “Seed” could be collective or an individual. Paul will show in Galatians 3:16 that the “seed,” ultimately, is an individual: Jesus Christ. As in Romans 4:3, in Gal. 3:6, Paul will quote Gen. 15:6 as the paradigm for faith in Christ. Also, as with Abram, faith in God is linked to obedience to God’s commands (James 2:20-24).
Paul Holland
