- Scripture: Genesis 15:1–15:21
- The Anchor: “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6
Whenever Mark (my youth Prator) talks about covenants at small group, he ALWAYS talks about this passage, so it feels awesome to read it. God comes to Abram and tells him that He is Abram’s shield and that his reward will be great. God promises that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and that his own son will be his heir, even though Abram had no sons and Sarai was barren. Abram believed this, and it was counted as righteousness. Abram then prepared an offering for God. God set Abram to sleep, and He appeared in a dream, prophesying about how Abram’s descendants would suffer for 400 years. The covenant itself was sealed by God passing through the animal pieces as a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, promising that Abram’s descendants would inherit the promised land.
After what I said about yesterday’s passage giving me “leaving the 99 sheep” vibes, today’s passage really gives the angel appearing to Mary vibes rather than appearing to Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father). Abram didn’t doubt the promise of God, but he was rightfully curious about how it would happen since Sarai was barren and he had no offspring. Yet Abram believed God’s promise, and it was counted to him as righteousness.
This topic of covenant always pops up when we’re talking about the Covenant of Works vs. the Covenant of Grace with Jesus vs. Adam. We always talk about how a covenant is an agreement, but is it an equal agreement where both sides have to hold up their part perfectly for it to be maintained? The answer is really no. God sets up the covenants, and He is able to perfectly fulfill them even when humans fail to do so. In this passage, the covenant was unequally set because God made the terms and He ultimately made it happen while Abram was asleep.
While searching about this topic, I fell into a little bit of a rabbit hole as I usually do and read an article on The Gospel Coalition about whether God’s covenants are conditional or unconditional. It’s pretty mind-blowing how God is the one who sets the “conditions” and then He ultimately fulfills every single one of them. Our God is truly amazing.
Reflection
- Zechariah doubted God’s promise and was struck silent, but Mary and Abram believed while simply asking how God would accomplish it. When you look at the big promises in the Bible, do you find yourself doubting like Zechariah, or do you have the faithful curiosity of Abram?
- God passed through the pieces of the covenant alone while Abram was completely asleep, showing that the pressure to fulfill the promise rested entirely on God’s shoulders. When you feel overwhelmed trying to live out your faith perfectly, how does it comfort you to know that the Covenant of Grace depends on God’s faithfulness, not your own performance?
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You are my shield and my great reward. Forgive me for the times I doubt Your Word, and help me to rest in the amazing truth that You perfectly fulfill Your covenants even when I am weak. Thank You for Your unseen but known presence in my life today. Amen.