Genesis 14 & 15 Wednesday Table Day
Laurie’s Notes:
COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ABRAM
DUST TO STARS
Genesis 13:16 “I will make your offspring like dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count
the dust, then your offspring could be counted.”
Yim-Manah means count or number. Used when referring to the dust of the earth.
Referencing the QUANTITY of Abram’s seed. MULTIPLICATION!!
Genesis 15:5 “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” (smirk,
smirk -Spoiler Alert – You can’t) Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Question: Is it possible that God has a SENSE of HUMOR?
The use of stars shows the QUALITY of Abram’s descendants. Like the stars, the 12 tribes of
Israel were destined to be lifted up to shine in a dark world. EXALTATION!! Abram was given a
vision of what was to come through his offspring. They would be the vessels that would
emulate the glory of God in a dark world.
True for us today as well!! ABRAHAM to JESUS to BELIEVERS!!
Galatians 3:29 “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the
promise!”
THE DANCE OF ABRAM’S RESPONSES TO GOD
Genesis 15:2 “BUT Abram said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, WHAT can you give me….”
Genesis 15:6 “Abram BELIEVED the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness.”
Abram BELIEVED the Lord. For a hot minute!!!
Question: What made him believe? That’s one conversation I would have loved to eavesdrop
on!
Genesis 15:8 “BUT Abram said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, HOW can I know…”
DOUBT-BELIEF-DOUBT. What does this tell us about RIGHTEOUSNESS?
THE GENTLENESS OF OUR FATHER GOD
I can just imagine God smiling upon Abram, putting His arm around him, and leading him out of
his tent to gaze up at the multitude of stars, in the MIDST OF HIS DOUBT!
God is a GENTLE Father.
God is a PATIENT Father.
God’s first response to Abram’s doubt. A word of truth. (vs. 4)
God’s second response to Abram’s doubt. A visual representation. (vs. 5)
God’s third response to Abram’s doubt. A COVENANT represented by a word of truth
AND a visual sacrifice. (vs. 9, 17-18)
THE PING PONG MATCH BETWEEN GOD AND ABRAM
God makes a PROMISE.
Abram DOUBTS the promise.
God makes a PROMISE.
Abram BELIEVES the promise.
God makes a PROMISE.
Abram doubts the promise.
God makes a COVENANT promise.
Abram OUTWARDLY honors the covenant.
God has his plan laid out for his promise.
Abram thinks God is taking too long.
Abram takes the plan back into his hands.
God makes a SECOND COVENANT promise.
OT (Circumcision of the flesh)
Exodus 4:25 “But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet
with it and said, “Surely you are a BRIDEGROOM OF BLOOD to me”.
NT (Circumcision of the heart)
The shed blood of Jesus, OUR BRIDEGROOM of BLOOD
Question: What PROMISE has/is God making to me and I am “returning His serve with “What
can you give me” or “How can I know?”
Do I stand in TRUST or TREPIDATION?
Interesting that the very FIRST words God spoke to Abram when establishing his covenant with
him was “DO NOT BE AFRAID.”.
And then God gives him the reason why.
“I AM YOUR SHIELD, YOUR SOVEREIGN. I AM YOUR VERY GREAT REWARD.”
Not just our ‘Rewarder’, but our REWARD. GOD IS THE REWARD!!
Immanuel, God With Us!!!