God's Covenant with Abram

God continued to be an active presence in Abram's life. Abram had a vision where God's Word came to him saying, "I am thy shield and thy exceeding reward" (Genesis 15:1). God was Abram's protection and provider.

Abram expressed concern that he is childless and asked God, "what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezar of Damascus" (Genesis 15:2)? God assured Abram that he will produce many heirs by having him to look toward heaven and if he is able to count the stars "...[s]o shall thy seed be" (Genesis 15:5). Abram's heirs will be as numerous as the stars. "And [Abram] believed in the Lord; and [the Lord] counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).

The Lord brought it to Abram's remembrance, "I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it" (Genesis 15:7). Abram then said, "Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it" (Genesis 15:8)? God gave Abram instructions--"Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon"(Genesis 15:9). Abram took the animals to God "...and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not" (Genesis 15:10). Abram drove away fowls that came down upon the carcases (Genesis 15:11).

When the sun set, a deep sleep came upon Abram and God informed Abram that his heirs will serve in a nation that is not theirs for four hundred years. God will judge the nation and Abram's heirs will "...come out with great substance" (Genesis 15:13,14). Abram will live to an old age and the future events for him concerning his heirs will give him peace since God said to Abram:

"And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age" (Genesis 15:15). It seems that verses fifteen and sixteen occur in a chronological order of events to come and God continued to inform Abram of more to occur after his death which is the Amorites, more of Abram's heirs, will return to the strange land again in the fourth generation to fulfill more of their iniquity (Genesis 15:16).

Also occurring when the sun went down was "...a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces" (Genesis 15:17). The furnace and lamp passed through the animal pieces that God had wanted Abram to take to Him. God made a covenant with Abram and said,
"Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites" (Genesis 15:18-21).