Genesis 15

5. The Abrahamic Covenant ch. 15

Abram asked God to strengthen his faith. In response Yahweh promised to give the patriarch innumerable descendants. This led Abram to request some further assurance that God would indeed do what He promised. God graciously obliged him by formalizing the promises and making a covenant. In the giving of the covenant God let Abram know symbolically that enslavement would precede the fulfillment of the promise.

From chapters 12 through 14 issues involving God’s promise to Abram concerning land have predominated. However from chapter 15 on tensions arising from the promise of descendants become central in the narrative.

Abram was legitimately concerned about God’s provision of the Promised Land as well as his need for an heir. He had declined the gifts of the king of Sodom and had placed himself in danger of retaliation from four powerful Mesopotamian kings. God had proven Himself to be Abram’s "shield" (defender) in the battle just passed. Now He promised to be the same in the future and to give Abram great "reward." This was God’s fourth revelation to Abram.

"Genesis 15 not only stands at the center of the external structure of the Abraham narratives, but also is regarded in the history of exegesis right down to the present as the very heart of the Abraham story." [Note: Westermann, Genesis 12-36, p. 230.]

"Scene 5 [ch. 15] consists of two divine encounters (Genesis 15:1-21) involving dialogue between the Lord and Abraham and powerful images symbolizing God’s presence and promises. The first occurs at night (Genesis 15:5) as a vision (Genesis 15:1) and pertains to the promised seed. The second occurs at sundown (Genesis 15:12), partially in a deep sleep (Genesis 15:12), and pertains to the promised land." [Note: Waltke, Genesis, p. 238.]

Moses’ declaration that "Abram believed the LORD . . ." (Genesis 15:6) links the two sections.