Rev. David Holwick D Abraham #4
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 6, 2005
Genesis 15:7-18
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I. Weird dreams.
A. Visiting grandparents in Chicago.
We were put on sofa-bed in living room.
Old stuff all around the room.
Shadows from the city came through the window.
As I drift off to sleep, I saw him.
A sinister man in a fedora hat.
He hovered on the edge of the room, waiting to eat me.
All night long I trembled under the covers.
Only my nose stuck out - monsters can't eat your nose.
In the morning I took another peek.
The sinister man in the fedora was actually grandpa's coat
rack.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be here this morning!
B. God can speak through dreams.
1) Abraham received many visions this way.
2) They held great promises, but could also be rather sinister.
II. Confirmation by covenant.
A. Abram - how can I know I'll get all this?
1) Most of us crave assurance.
a) Does our girlfriend or spouse really love us?
b) Am I going to get that raise the boss promised me?
2) Abram was no different than us.
a) God's promise should have been enough for him, but
the Lord cut him some slack.
b) Actually, he cut a little more than this.
c) What follows are the mysterious details of a covenant
ceremony.
1> Covenant - the Lord's solemn agreement with us,
with the details laid out by God alone.
2> Take it or leave it.
B. Sealed with a curse.
1) Animals are brought.
a) All of these animals are acceptable for sacrifice.
b) Curious detail - they are to be three years old.
1> The animals probably represent Israel.
2> They are 3 years old to represent the 3 generations
of captivity. 15:13,16
3> (Gideon sacrificed a 7-year-old bull to represent
7 years of oppression). Judges 6:1,25
4> The birds of prey are the enemies who will attack
them, but be driven off.
2) Animals are cut up (except birds).
a) Insight from Jeremiah 34:18 - "Follow this agreement,
or I'll do to you what you just did to the animals."
b) Verse 18 - literally, God "cuts" a covenant with Abram.
1> Ultimate covenants are always sealed with blood.
III. A long look forward.
A. The history of Israel in a thumbnail sketch. 15:13
1) The fourth generation will be freed.
a) An obvious prediction of the Exodus from Egypt.
2) Also, an explanation for the grim slaughter in the book of
Joshua - God will be judging them for their sinful
behavior, not just to clear the land.
a) God is not capricious or cruel, but moral.
B. This covenant is different from one at Sinai (Ten Commandments).
1) Moses' covenant had stipulations.
a) Obey commandments, or no blessing for you.
2) Abraham's covenant does not have stipulations
a) No rules, just God's promise of land.
b) The boundaries are described in some detail.
1> Only under Solomon did they attain this, if then.
2> Under Jesus, the boundaries will be limitless.
C. God keeps his promises over the long haul.
1) The Jewish promise of the land seemed dead for 2,000 years.
2) Only now, in our generation, are they back in Israel.
a) God predicted it.
b) It is one aspect of the return of the Messiah, Jesus,
to take over the earth.
IV. Sealed with a theophany.
A. Firepot and torch anticipate Exodus' pillar of fire and cloud.
1) Flame and smoke are often associated with God's presence.
a) Mount Sinai at giving of Ten Commandments - fire and
smoke and rumblings; people were terrified.
b) (Compare Revelation 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 15:8; 16:18)
2) Don't mess with God.
a) It is a scary experience to encounter God.
1> We like to reduce him to our buddy-boy.
b) God is our friend, but he is more.
1> Hebrews 10:31 - It is a dreadful thing to fall into
the hands of the living God.
2> The dark and foreboding imagery of Abram's vision
agrees with this.
B. A divine curse.
1) Abram doesn't walk between the pieces - God does. 15:17
a) Would God actually curse himself, at least potentially?
1> Many scholars reject this out of hand.
b) But the example of Jesus shows this is probably what
God is doing.
2) What the Father did symbolically, Jesus did literally.
a) Jesus became a curse for us, on the cross. Gal 3:13
V. We can be assured.
A. Abraham's experience might not be that reassuring to us.
1) How can I know? - just look at these cut-up animals!
2) The real assurance came from the vision, and the promises.
a) He knows he will have a real son.
b) He knows he will have many descendants.
c) He knows the precise dimensions of his land.
d) He knows what the future holds.
B. Christians have these same promises made more clear.
1) Abram had a dream, we have the whole Bible.
2) Abram was given a preview of 400 years, we are given
details about the end of time.
3) Abram had cut-up animals, we have a crucified Savior.
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Notes from commentary:
Derek Kidner
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I. New Testament treats this as a significant chapter.
A. Abram's declaration of faith - Romans 4, Galatians 3.
B. Recording of the covenant - Galatians 3:17-22.
1) Because of it, God brought Jews out of Egypt. Exod 2:24
2) Because of it, God brought his Son into the world. Lk 1:72f
II. Abram's faith clarified.
A. My Shield - Abram's trust is in God; his hope is in the promise.
1) The vision is more verbal than visual.
2) It is in the form of a test.
B. Abram recalls the details of the earlier promise.
1) Servants can be heirs, and even considered sons. (Ruth 4:17)
2) Abram's legitimate doubt is answered.
3) The vision takes place at night.
a) The sign proved nothing but is a "visible word."
C. Abram's statement of faith.
1) Faith is not a crowning merit but the readiness to accept
what God promises.
2) His faith is personal and propositional.
III. The covenant.
A. Land aspect of promise is emphasized.
1) How can I know?
2) Two stages to covenant (v. 18):
a) Cutting ceremony here.
b) Circumcision in Gen 17.
B. Cutting ceremony resembles Jer 34:18.
1) Accompanied by signs of the terror of the Lord.
2) New covenant also. (Matt 24:45,51)
C. Prediction of bondage.
1) Moral background to Canaanite issue.
2) Verse 17 - most likely a theophany.
a) God alone makes the covenant.
1> Other covenants in Bible are more like bargaining.
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