God’s Covenant with Abram
Text: Genesis 15
Core Idea: God is our shield and our reward – in Him, we find true safety and lasting satisfaction. So, let’s cling to His promises when fears and doubts arise, confident that He remains faithful, even when we are faithless – His love endures, even when our love falls short, for He has bound Himself to us.
INTRODUCTION
Well, we’ve been walking through the Book of Genesis – tracing how God’s plan of salvation for the world began. And about a month ago, we looked at Chapter 14, where Lot was taken captive by an alliance of four eastern kings who invaded Sodom. Now, Abram had every reason not to get involved – he could’ve justified his inaction by blaming Lot, saying, “Well, that’s what you get for moving into Sodom. That’s what you get for being selfish.” But more than that, from a human perspective, the odds were stacked against him in that his 318 men stood no chance against a far greater army. Yet Abram didn’t hesitate. He set everything aside and went to rescue Lot. Why? Because he had learned what it means to be a blessing. The truth is that being a blessing always comes at a cost. It requires sacrifice so that others might be helped – which means that this couldn’t have been an easy decision for Abram. But Abram had experienced God’s grace time and time again – when he left Harran, when he faced famine, when Sarai was taken away in Egypt, and when he had to part ways with Lot in the Promised Land. Having received such grace, he had learned to extend grace to others. That’s not all. After rescuing Lot, Abram revealed where his confidence truly rested – not in wealth or military victory, but in God alone, as he freely gave away all he had taken from the eastern kings. The lesson was clear: faithlessness leaves us empty-handed, but faith teaches us to live open-handed – trusting that God will provide and protect us. He gives and takes away, but faith enables us to say, “Blessed be Your name.” And that’s where we left off. Then, with that in mind, please turn your Bibles to Genesis 15 – and I will read this for us.
1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can You give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” 8 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” 9 So the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought all these to Him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, He did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” 17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates – 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me share three things from this passage:
· GOD’S COMFORT
· GOD’S CONFIRMATION
· GOD’S COVENANT
1) GOD’S COMFORT
Look at the way verse 1 begins: “After this” – pointing us back to the events of Chapter 14. As I mentioned earlier, a great war had broken out, and many were taken captive – including Lot and his family. But Abram bravely set out with only 318 men, defeated an alliance of four kings, rescued Lot, and recovered all that had been stolen. Now, at first glance, this seems like the perfect ending to a wonderful story – “and they lived happily ever after.” But if you think about it, Abram must have felt anxious, even fearful, for he lived in a world marked by greed, entitlement, and violence – retaliation was common. It wouldn’t have been surprising if the kings had returned to take back what he had taken from them. Then, it’s not hard to imagine the questions that must have run through Abram’s mind: “What if the kings regroup and come back for me? Could I withstand them a second time? Will Lot stand with me, or will I be left alone? I thought God said He’ll make me into a great nation – but if these kings return, I’ll be a dead man. I’m scared. What will happen to me?” Now, how do I know Abram was afraid? Because of what God says to him in verse 1, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Picture the scene. In the stillness of the night, as Abram sat alone in his tent, weighed down by fear, God broke in and called him by name – “Abram, don’t be scared, for I am your shield. I will stand between you and your enemies – and no weapon formed against you will prevail. I will protect you – I will keep you safe. And more than that, I will satisfy you, for I am your reward. Everything you truly need, everything your heart longs for, you’ll find in Me. So, don’t let your heart be troubled – turn to Me and trust Me.” God didn’t remain distant when Abram was afraid. He drew near and spoke tenderly, personally – comforting him not with things, but with Himself.
Friends, have you ever found yourself tossing and turning at night, unable to sleep because your mind was consumed with worry – fears that weighed you down and made you anxious? Maybe it was concern for your children – their safety and future. Maybe it was tension in your marriage or a friendship that’s been broken. Maybe it was the pressure of work deadlines, the stress of unemployment, or the burden of debt. Perhaps it’s regret over past choices, guilt you can’t shake, or the ache of chronic pain. Whatever it is, it’s keeping you awake at night – gripped by fear. If that’s you, listen to God calling you by name and saying to you, “I am your shield. I am your reward,” through this passage. Now, this doesn’t mean that you’ll never face pain, loss, or suffering. Because we live in a fallen and broken world, we may get sick, we may fall and fail, and life may not always go as we planned. Then, what does it mean that God is our shield? It means that our salvation is secure in Christ. Romans 8:35, 37 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” And Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” When the unthinkable happens, when darkness seems to hide His face, when it feels like your prayers are not being heard, when you feel utterly alone, you can still rest assured in this: the God who called you will carry you home. Nothing can separate you from the One who promises life and life to the full. So, no matter how painful life on earth is, our hope remains unshaken because it’s grounded not in circumstances, but in Christ’s finished work on the cross. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Brothers and sisters, do fears keep you awake at night? If so, turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face – and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. And knowing that God Himself is the treasure we long for and our inheritance forever, may Psalm 73:25 be your confession: “Whom have I in heaven but you? Earth has nothing I desire besides you.”
2) GOD’S CONFIRMATION
Now, despite God’s comforting words, Abram still wrestled with doubt – he said in verse 2, “Sovereign LORD, what can You give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” He was basically saying, “Okay, I get that You’re my shield and reward. But can’t You see that I’m still childless? You said I would have a son and that a great nation would come from me – but when? How? Is this even possible with Sarai being barren? With the way things are going, it looks like my servant will inherit everything. Or is that what You meant when You promised me this? I don’t know, God. I’m really trying to believe – but honestly, I’m starting to doubt. How can I be sure You’ll actually do what You promised? Because everything I see right now seems to contradict Your Word. So, tell me – what can You give me, what can You do for me that will put these questions to rest?” And God’s response was clear, verse 4, “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” In other words, He was saying, “Abram, I meant what I said.” Then, God did something remarkable. He took Abram outside the tent and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Now, it’s hard for us to picture what Abram saw that night. Living in the city, even on a clear night, we rarely see more than a handful of stars. But out in the ancient Near East, the night sky was often filled with countless stars. (Here’s a picture taken in Israel today to help us imagine it.) And under that vast sky, God said, “So shall your offspring be.” One thing I want to point out here is the fact that God didn’t rebuke Abram for his lack of faith. He didn’t say, “How dare you question Me? After all I’ve done for you, are you still doubting Me? If I said it’ll happen, it will happen! Enough is enough. If you question Me one more time, the deal is off. I’m going to choose for Myself someone with greater faith than you.” No, He didn’t – He patiently and graciously responded to Abram’s questions. Now, Abram had doubted many times before – and yet every time, God spoke tenderly to him. “Abram, I’m going to bless you (Ch. 12). If you don’t believe Me, look around you – I’ll make your offspring like the dust of the earth (Ch. 13). Are you still doubting Me? Then, look up in the sky – I’ll make your offspring like the stars in the night sky. When I told you I had offspring for you and that I would bless the nations through you, I didn’t have Eliezer of Damascus in mind. So, let me spell this out for you again – you will have a son.” God clarified and confirmed His promises to Abram – and he believed. Verse 6, “Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” I could imagine Abram saying something like this: “God, I’m so sorry for doubting You. I do believe – I believe that You’ll do this because I know that You’re a faithful God. You’ll never let me go.” What’s remarkable here is that Abram’s circumstances hadn’t changed at all – Sarai was still barren. Then, what’s changed? Abram’s heart and perspective. Now, this isn’t the first time Abram trusted God’s promises – which means that this doesn’t describe the conversion of his heart but the confirmation of his faith. In the midst of his doubts, Abram continued to trust God – and God counted that growing faith as righteousness for Abram. In the OT, the word “righteousness” often refers to being in the right relationship with God. Then, notice that God did not declare Abram righteous because of his heroic acts – defeating the five kings, rescuing Lot, or offering tithes to Melchizedek. No, it was when Abram simply trusted God’s word. God credited that faith as righteousness – not because faith itself earns righteousness, but because faith is the means by which we receive it. Think of it like this: when you board a plane, you don’t flap your arms to make it fly. You take your seat and trust the plane to carry you. In the same way, faith is resting in Christ. Just as the plane, not your strength, carries you safely, so Christ, not your effort, saves you.
Friends, have you ever complained to God in disappointment because of the tension between God’s promises and your perception? “God, You said that You’re good and that Your timing is perfect – but why haven’t You brought the right person into my life? I guess I’ll never get married. If I stay single my whole life, it’s all on You, God. In fact, I’ll just date whoever, even if it doesn’t honor You.” “God, You promised to provide for all our needs – but You still haven’t come through in my job search. So, I’ll just take matters into my own hands – even if it means cutting corners, lying on a resume, or compromising my integrity.” “God, You promised that when I’m tempted, You’ll always provide a way out – but You didn’t, and I had no choice but to give in.” “God, You said Your grace is sufficient for me, but this is too much. I can’t do this. What can You give me? What can You do to change my situation?” If you said anything like this, let this passage remind you that God hasn’t given up on you. He will keep His promises – and He’ll confirm them over and over again through His Word. What does He require from us? Simply trust and obey. He’s not asking us to be heroes. He’s not asking us to prove our worth or earn His favor. He simply wants us to trust Him and His promises – to believe that He’ll do all that He promised to do in our lives. Of course, Paul further expands this idea to explain the gospel – for we’re not saved by works but by grace. Salvation is made possible not because of what we do but what Christ has done for us – all we need to do is simply receive that truth in faith. Romans 4:2-5 says, “If Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.” Here, Paul was saying, “If you try to earn salvation, God owes you. The problem is that you’ll never measure up – for God’s standard is perfection. If you stop trying to earn it and trust God’s promise in Christ, He’ll credit you with righteousness you could never deserve.” Then, if you’re not yet a Christian, I invite you to put your faith in Christ today. Friends, you cannot earn salvation. You cannot earn your worth. They can only be given to you – the good news is that Christ wants to give His righteousness. So, stop trusting in the things of this world – they’ll get you nowhere. Trust Christ, and the hope of eternal life will be yours to enjoy. Don’t delay. Go to Him today.
Now, some of you may be thinking, “But what are we supposed to believe if God doesn’t speak to us audibly like He did with Abram?” Yes, it’s true that God rarely speaks to us audibly today – but He still speaks to us. How? Through His written Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” We may not hear God’s promises, but we can read God’s promises – and in fact, the promises we read in the Bible are much better than the promises Abram received. For example, Abram was promised a future offspring through whom the nations would be blessed – but we actually have that promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through whom the nations are blessed. Abram was promised land, descendants, and blessing – but in Christ, we’re promised eternal life, a resurrected body, and the new heavens and new earth. All we need to do is believe. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Then, let me encourage you once again to immerse yourself in the Word this week. I understand that you’re all busy – we’re bombarded with responsibilities and distractions that continue to keep us away from the Word. But without the Word as the anchor for our souls, we will drift further and further away from the Lord. You may not be able to tell right away, but you’ll one day find yourself far from His presence. You’ll be tempted to doubt His goodness and grace. Don’t let that happen. Read His Word, trust His Word, and obey His Word.
3) GOD’S COVENANT
After Abram believed the Lord, God reminded him of who He was – verse 7, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” In other words, “You’re safe with Me.” But Abram said in verse 8, “Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” Now, it seems like Abram is doubting again – but this is slightly different from before. If he was doubting God in verse 2, he was doubting himself here in verse 8. He wasn’t saying, “How do I know that this will really happen? Prove it to me, God!” – rather, he was saying, “God, I’m weak. I’ve already stumbled so many times. How can I be sure that I’ll really hold onto this promise? What if I fail You again? What if I disqualify myself? I have doubts about myself. I don’t know if I am really up for this task.” Now, how does God respond? He says in verse 9, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” That’s all He said – but Abram seemed to know exactly what to do. He cut the animals in two (except the birds) and arranged the halves opposite each other – creating a path between them. This may seem odd to us, but this was a common process of making a covenant with someone in the ancient world. Today, we finalize a covenant by signing something on paper. The terms are written there – and if one party breaks the promise, the signed paper becomes the legal document to hold them accountable. But that’s not how covenants were made in oral cultures. Instead of signing a paper, they acted out symbolic rituals to show the seriousness of the agreement. So, for example, in Mesopotamia, objects like broken arrows or smashed clay jars were shown to demonstrate the fate of a covenant-breaker – but the Hittites often shared a meal between the parties to emphasize unity and peace. All that to say, what Abram did was a common practice – which is why he knew what to do when God commanded him to bring these animals. The path of animals cut in half illustrated the consequence of breaking the covenant – the two parties would walk through the path and say, “If I break my vows, may I be as these animals. May I be cut to pieces. May my body become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.” Now, one more thing – back then, when a covenant was made between a king and a servant, only the servant walked through the path. Why? Because he was the one who owed obedience and loyalty – the king simply stood as the enforcer of the covenant. Given all this, Abram likely assumed he alone had to walk the path, thinking, “God must be requiring my loyalty, especially because I look so hesitant.” But something unthinkable happened next. Verse 17, “When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.” A smoking firepot with a blazing torch is a very rare image in Scripture – but both elements appear elsewhere as symbols of God’s immediate presence. For instance, Exodus 19:18 says, “Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.” In the same way, God was making Himself visibly known to Abram – and it was He, not Abram, who passed between the pieces. And by doing so, He was essentially saying, “If I don’t fulfill My promise, may I be torn to pieces. May I be cut in half. May I die.” But as crazy as that is, there’s something more astonishing. Don’t just look at who walks through the pieces. Look at who doesn’t – Abram. And here’s why this is significant – God was saying, “If I’m not faithful to the covenant, I will pay the penalty. But if you’re not faithful to the covenant, I will still pay the penalty on your behalf. Whether you fail or I fail, I will take the blame – and I will make things right again, for My blessing to you is unconditional. I will bless you no matter what, for that is what I promised.” This must have left Abram speechless but also incredibly grateful. It would’ve washed away his doubts. And what’s amazing is that this promise wasn’t just for him but his descendants as well – God said in verse 18, “To your descendants I give this land.” In other words, God’s promise wasn’t exhausted in Abram’s lifetime – it continued to his children and their children. But that’s not all.
The Bible tells us that the same promise is given to anyone who places their faith in the One who brought Abram out of darkness into light. How’s that made possible? In verse 12, we read that when Abram fell into a deep sleep, a thick and dreadful darkness came over him – a terror fell on him. But there’s another place in the Bible where darkness fell – Mark 15:33, “At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.” When Jesus went to the cross, darkness came down again – that thick darkness, that darkness of terror and dread. And Isaiah 53:8 tells us, “He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was punished.” He was cut off – a covenant language. No wonder He cried out in Mark 15:34, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? (which means ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’)” Jesus, the Son of God, was torn to pieces and died in order to pay the penalty of our unfaithfulness. He was punished so that we may go free. He was forsaken so that we may be remembered. He was cursed so that we may receive the fullness of God’s blessings. Galatians 3:29, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
What does that mean for us? It means that we have no reason to doubt God or even ourselves. In His love, God will never give up on us. He’ll forever be faithful to us, even when we are faithless, for Christ made a way for us. Brothers and sisters, do you fear that you’ve disqualified yourself from His promises? Do your repeated sins, your apathy, or your disobedience make you feel too far gone from His presence? If so, let this passage remind you that His grace is always enough. He will never give up on you, even when you are faithless. So, fix your eyes on Christ. Look again to the cross and remember that you are loved beyond measure. Let the gospel be the anchor for your soul in the midst of life’s storms.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, God is our shield and our reward – in Him, we find true safety and lasting satisfaction. So, let’s cling to His promises when fears and doubts arise, confident that He remains faithful, even when we are faithless – His love endures, even when our love falls short, for He has bound Himself to us.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) What kinds of things tend to keep you awake at night? How do you usually respond to fear or anxiety – do you try to control the situation, distract yourself, or turn to God? God says to Abram, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” What do these two images teach us about who God is for His people?
2) Have you ever felt tension between what God promised in His Word and what you see in your life circumstances? How did you respond? Read verse 6. Why is faith, not works, the basis of our righteousness before God?
3) What’s the significance of the fact that God took responsibility not only if He failed but even if Abram failed? How does seeing Jesus “cut off” at the cross deepen your confidence in God’s covenant faithfulness toward you?
4) Read Psalm 73:25. What would it look like for you to make that your confession this week?