Genesis 15

Genesis 15:1

In this chapter we have a solemn treaty between God and Abram, concerning a command that was to be established between them. In contains, (1.) A general assurance of God’s kindness and good-will to Abram, ver. 1. (2.) A particular declaration of the purpose of his love, concerning him in true things. 1. That he would give him a numerous offer, ver. 2. to ver. 7. 2. That he would give him Canaan for an inheritance, ver. 7. to the end.

1. After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am the shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Abram is favoured with frequent manifestations of the divine presence. He was met by kings, but now by the King of Kings. God spoke to him in a vision, probably in some glorious visible representation of himself, such as was the Shechный: whilst the natural man dreads every appearance or vision from another world, as boding no good to him; the soul that hath his affections there, hath nothing to fear from thence, but every thing to hope for. We have,

1. God’s encouragement: fear not, Abram. All his victories were not sufficient to remove his fears, not so much, I apprehend, from his enemies, as reflecting the fulfilment of the promise when as yet chiddles. Note, True faith, nay strong faith, may have fears attending it.

2. His promise. (1.) I am thy shield: therefore no reason had he to apprehend any danger; God is his people’s guardian: none can approach to hurt those, over whom the shield of almighty love is held. 2. I am thy exceeding great reward. Every thing before to a believing soul is light upon the balance; the enjoyment of the blessed God is the admiration of his felicity. O may I know more feelingly, and say more confidently, Thou art my portion, O Lord!

3. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go chiddles, and the steward of my house in this Eliezer of Damascus? 3. And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Genesis 15:2-3

Abram spreads his grief before the Lord, and since he is so gracious shews him his trouble. Note, God’s ears are ever open to the voice of our complaint. 1. He had a great promise, but no appearance of its fulfilment: he was chiddles, and likely to continue so, being old, and one of his servants must be his heir. Where then is the seed? What is all that thou giveth me, if this be withheld? Learn, 1. How hard it is, when mercies are long delayed, not to grow impatient, and weary of waiting. 2. In every distress, our business is to make God our bosom friend. 3. Whatever we enjoy, unless this seed be born in us, Christ the hope of glory, all is nothing. A Christless soul, though rich as Cresus, or great as Cæsar, must still be a miserable soul.

4. See credit.

5. And behold the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir, but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

v. 4, 5, 6. God’s answer to his request, What wilt thou give me?

1. An assurance of a son, not born in his house, but of himself. And such a son, whose progeny should vie with the stars of heaven for multitude, and thine as the stars for glory. Note, God is better to us than our stars, and when we despair, works most eminently to accomplish his own purposes.

2. Abram’s satisfaction in the answer. A thousand doubts of how and when might arise, but he regarded not his own age, nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb. See, 1. The nature of faith, an acquiescence in the divine promise. 2. The effects of it, patient hope.

3. His faith is counted to him for righteousness. God regarding him as righteous, and signifying it to him for his comfort. Note, 1. By faith in Jesus Christ alone, can we be justified before God. 2. By faith, all the Old Testament saints were accepted, as well as the New. 3. That this is the fundamental doctrine of the Christian religion, and distinguishes it from all systems of morality. To err in this, is to err in the fundamentals of Christianity.

4. And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chalders, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8. And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9. And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a the goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon. 10. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11. And when the fowls came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Genesis 15:7-11

As the seed is promised, the land is added moreover. If Christ be ours, heaven is ours. We have here,

1. A remembrance of mercies already conferred on Abram; I brought thee out of that idolatrous land of thy nativity, as a brand marched from the burning: and a promise of more; I brought thee hither to inherit this; thine it shall be; I am able to subdue all those enemies, and I will fulfil my promises. Note, 1. Past mercies are usually the earnest of greater. 2. Salvation is a special mercy. Will may we wonder, why we are taken out of Us, the fire, and others left. 3. It is a sure mercy; God will finish his own work, and not a little shall fail. 4. None shall come short of the eternal inheritance who are called with the holy calling.

2. Abram’s deft of some sign; not out of difficult of God’s faithfulness, but for the more assured confirmation of his faith. Learn, 1. The strongest believer hath need to pray, Lord, increase my faith. We have need to make use of all means, especially the sacrament, for the further confirmation of our hearts in the divine promises. 2. The clearer our views are of a covenant title to heaven, the more comfortable shall we be.

3. God’s answer: he directs a sacrifice, and appoints the beasts which should be slain. Note, 1. In waiting upon God in his ordinances, we may expect to be met by him with promises. 2. The best must be presented to him: negligent prayers, and inattentive hearing, is like bringing the same and the blind for a sacrifice.

4. Abram’s obedience. He divided the beasts, according to the custom in solemn covenants, and waited for God’s appearing to confirm the promise. And as he waited long, the fowls fell upon the sacrifices, and he drove them away. Note, When God calls us to his foothold, though he delay to answer us, we must not be weary of waiting: and when in prayer, and our appearance before God, vain, wandering, or worldly thoughts intrude, we must drive them out, least they devour the best of our sacrifices.

5. And when the sun was going down a deep steep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. 14. And also that nation whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace: thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Genesis 15:12-16

When Abram had waited for God from morning until evening, as the sun was going down, God appears, to his comfort. Note, Though we went all our days, waiting for God, and after years of patience, only found him when the sun of life declined, we should have an abundant recompense. Here we may observe,

1. The preparation for God’s manifestation of himself. A divine exhale, a deep steep fell on him, which whilst it left the soul more free and active, locked up the senses from all disturbance and distraction. And in the deep, an horror of great darkness, arising from an awful reverence of the majesty of that God, with whom he was converting, and a prologue of the events which God was about to disclose to him. Note, 1. The more we are obtrusted from the objects of sense in all our worship, the better. 2. Darkness, great darkness and hor-

1 FOS. Barns Chill Ruben Chaff

1911. ror, may sometimes seize a Christian’s soul. 3. It adds a new relith to the joy, when there arifeth up light in the darkness.

1912. God’s revelation concerning himself and his potterity. 1. His potterity. (1.) Their sufferings, sojourning, and captivity in Egypt. Note, 1. It is best to know the world first. 2. Our untested sojourning on the earth, will make our rest in heaven the more welcome. 3. We are all servants till God comes to look the hands of corruption. 4. Suffering is the portion of God’s children; it is thus we must enter the kingdom. 5. Though our sufferings upon earth, were as long as Israel’s in Egypt, nay, as many ages as days, the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory will make them appear light afflictions, and but for a moment. (2.) Their return to the land of promise, after the days of their captivity, with great hiddance: God will enrich them under their sufferings, and at last bring them forth, laden with the spoil of their oppressors. Let the oppressors of God’s people, like the Egyptians, know their day is coming. (3.) Two causes of their return are mentioned, 1. The judgments of God upon Egypt, in the plagues which afterwards came upon them: his people’s quarrels are his own, and he will avenge them. 2. The filling the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites. God waits long, and is kind. He strikes not, till incorrigible impiety makes patience needless.

1913. Concerning himself. Though he should not live to see his potterity’s triumphs, neither should he take their affliction. A peaceful life, a good old age, and an honourable feudselore shall be his lot. Note, (1.) It is a blessed thing to die in peace: this is the fruit of Abram’s faith. (2.) One of the comforts of death is to be gathered to our fathers: those dear relatives, whether by nature or grace, who have fallen asleep in Christ before us. (3.) Old age is a blessing indeed, when the hoary head is found in the way of righteousness. (4.) The grave to the sinner, is the land of captivity; to the believer, it is the gate which leads into the land of promise.

Heb. A Lore of Art.