Genesis 15

Verse 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.' ”  Abram had just picked a fight with a group of kings and won, having good reason to fear their retaliation. Not only that, but he had sacrificed his reward that was offered him by the king of Sodom. But God tells him that HE is his shield and reward. We can trust God when He calls us into difficult situations and know that He will take care of us. Anything that we give up for Him will be rewarded not only in eternity, but also in this life.  Mark 10:29-31, “So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.' ”  Although Satan and your flesh might try to convince you that you will be missing out, you will never end up losing when you sacrifice something for Jesus.

Verses 2-3, “But Abram said, 'Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?' Then Abram said, 'Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!' ”  It sounds like Abram has doubts about God's promise, but he is not doubting God or His ability to fulfill them. He was most likely looking for God's encouragement to keep believing in the promise, and we have no reason to believe that he offended God with his question. Mary also questioned the message from God when she was told that she would conceive a Son.  Luke 1:34, “Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?' ”  In contrast, John the Baptist's father was rebuked when he questioned God's promise to give him and his barren wife a son.  Luke 1:18-20, “And Zacharias said to the angel, 'How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.' And the angel answered and said to him, 'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.' ”

When you first read Abram's question...what will you give me...it may even sound familiar to the entitlement attitude that the world has embraced today, and has even crept into the church. Many are looking out for themselves and what they can get, rather than how they can give and serve others. Often people who profess Jesus only call upon Him when they need something, but when things are going well for them, they quickly return to their self reliance and seeking their own will. Or they become bitter when they do not receive from God and others according to their desires. A relationship with Jesus is not about what we can selfishly gain in this world, especially since all that we see is perishing. Knowing that you can gain the whole world, but still lose your soul ought to motivate you to seek true riches, and surround yourself with those who are in pursuit of the same.

In fact, those Christians who are self seeking and not content should be rebuked and ultimately avoided, lest their sin spread. I Timothy 6:3‭-‬8, “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”

Verses 4-6, “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.' 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.' And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”  So we see here that Abram's questions were not asked in doubt because he did believe in the Lord, and it was counted as righteousness...and his questions continued.  Verses 7-8, “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.' And he said, 'Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?' ”  Abram’s righteousness was imputed before the law existed, while he was uncircumcised. So we can know that it is through faith, not works, that one can be saved.  Galatians 3:5-7, “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”

In response to his last question, God gives Abram final assurance by performing a miraculous sign while making a blood-sealed covenant.  Verses 9-11, 17-18, “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.' 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. And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away...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. 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...' ”  God passed through the animal parts Himself, as a smoking oven and burning torch, signifying His level of commitment to this promise as well as His Supernatural ability. The covenant sealed with blood meant that if one did not keep their word, the bloodshed would be upon them.  2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”