Genesis 15

To this point in our study of Genesis, God has made three covenants with his people: the covenant of Eden, the covenant with Adam, and the covenant with Noah, indicated by a rainbow in the sky. Today, we will consider another covenant called the covenant with Abraham or the Abrahamic covenant.

A covenant is simply an agreement between two parties. Some are conditional. Both parties must keep the agreement for the transaction to stand. Conditional covenants are sometimes called bilateral covenants because of the dependency on two parties for the agreement to last. Marriage is a bilateral covenant. Another type of covenant is unconditional or unilateral. This type of covenant involves two parties, but only one party must act. Nothing is required of the second party. As we consider the covenant God made with Abram, see if you can determine whether it is conditional or unconditional.

In Genesis 12:1-3, God gave Abram this promise when he called him from Ur of the Chaldeans:

Genesis 12:1-3
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

We could say that the covenant of Abraham was given in Genesis 12:1-3 and, in our passage today, it is confirmed. Let’s work through Genesis 15.

Abraham defeated the eastern kings, rescued Lot, and had his encounter with Melchizedek. Right after this, God gave instructions to Abram and reminded Abram that he, God, would always be his shield, his protector, and that Abram would receive a great reward. Perhaps Abram was thinking back to the promise God made in Genesis 12 when he responded.

Genesis 15:1-3
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”

God assured Abram that his household servant, Eliezer, would not be the heir but Abram would have his own son to be his heir. Then God took Abram outside.

Genesis 15:5-6
“Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.   

The last statement of this passage is repeated three times in the New Testament (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23) and is a foundational truth for Christians. While Abram’s existing faith is the basis for God making a covenant with him, the form of the Hebrew word “believed” shows that Abram’s faith did not begin after his interaction with God in Genesis 15:1-5. The covenant did not provide salvation. That happened years earlier when Abram responded to God’s call to leave Ur of the Chaldeans. The “Bible clearly teaches that in all ages imputed righteousness (i.e., salvation) comes by faith.”^[1]

Abram’s faith was steadfast, but he and Sarai were old. So, he asks, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess [the land]?” (Genesis 15:9). God told Abram to take a heifer, a goat, and a ram, cut them in half and make a walkway between the halves. Abram was also instructed to bring a turtledove and a young pigeon. When Abram prepared the sacrifices, he had to drive away birds of prey. Then, he fell into a dark sleep. The birds of prey swooping down and the darkness signified a dark time in Israel’s history. Before Abram’s descendants occupied the land, there would be four hundred years of affliction and slavery. But God promised to deliver them “with great possessions” (Genesis 15:12-14). At that point, God would judge the Amorites living there.

Let’s read the following verses to determine if this covenant is conditional or unconditional.

Genesis 15:17-18
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram….

Notice that God, appearing in the form of a smoking fire pot and flaming torch, passed between the sacrifices. The covenant was unilateral, unconditional. It involved two parties, but the covenant is totally dependent on God. When he first gives the promise in Genesis 12, five times he said, “I will.” God always keeps his promises.

One more thing…in Genesis 15:18-21, God includes details of the land Abram would possess as part of this covenant. This land would be the inheritance of Abram’s descendants forever (Genesis 13:15). The territory is expanded in Deuteronomy 30:1-10.

The covenant with Abram promised that, through him, the whole world would be blessed. That promise will be fulfilled in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) through Jesus. One day, Jesus will establish his kingdom, and finally, the world will know eternal peace.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Genesis 15. As you read about the unconditional Abrahamic covenant, think about the unconditional covenant God makes with each believer. Through Jesus, the sacrifice was made, the work was done. It all depends on him from the beginning to the end. By grace we have been saved through faith. Salvation from start to finish is dependent on the work of God. 

Prayer and Application
Thank God for his amazing grace. Ask God to give you the strength to respond to his  grace in worship every day.

Have Questions?
Send us any questions you have. Our team is here to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Simply submit your question below, and we’ll get back to you soon.

^[1] Allen P. Ross, “Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 55.