Genesis 15:12-21 – God’s Covenant with Abram
God comes to Abram at night after he has been waiting beside his sacrifice all day. Abram falls into a deep sleep, like a trance, and a terrible darkness comes that will not only cause Abram to fear God, but to have an idea of the darkness that his descendants will be in one day in Egypt.
God prophesies to Abram that his seed will suffer – they will be strangers, slaves, and afflicted for 400 years. But God will judge their enemies, and they will come out enriched to the very land Abram is living in now. The time will then be right for the Canaanites to be punished for their sins and for Abram’s descendants to inherit the land. Abram, however, will not see these troubles, but he will live to an old age and die at peace – peace with God and peace in his world.
In the darkness surrounding Abram, a fiery torch passes through the cut animals. This looks ahead to when God leads His people through the wilderness with pillars of fire and smoke. In ancient times, when you are making a covenant, you cut animals in two, and the person making the covenant walks between the animals. The covenant maker is saying that if he doesn’t keep his promise, may he be cut in two like these animals. God promises in this covenant that He has given the land to Abram’s descendants. What God promises to do is as sure as if it is already done.
Questions
- What does God tell Abram will happen to his descendants?
- What is God promising Abram in the covenant?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would keep our promises that we make to God.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters