Abraham Genesis 15:1-21

God reassures

• After this? – Genesis 15:1• Abram had been involved in a nasty skirmish –

Genesis 14• After a trauma, sometimes we take stock • Abram could see the fragility of his life• God appears and says “Do not be afraid

Abram, I am your shield”

God connects

• Abram knew he served “the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth” – Genesis 14:22

• His first words betray his doubts – Genesis 15:2• He believes that God made the universe but he

cannot see a way through in his own life• God is both transcendent and immanent • Count the stars – Genesis 15:4

God promises

• God made a covenant with Abram – Genesis 15:18

• God reminded Abram of his past experience so that he could have confidence in the future – Genesis 15:7

• God raised the stakes – Genesis 17:5• Abraham and Sarah both laughed – 17:17,

18:12

God exceeds

• Does Sarah’s appearance change? – Genesis 20:2

• Abraham and Sarah have a son – Genesis 21:1-7• Everyone is laughing now • Abraham could never have imagined a holy

nation with kings among his descendants • Could he ever have imagined that God would

send his son to be born from his descendants

God has not finished

• Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

BirdsGe 15:11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

BirdsMt 24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather

Darkness Ge 15:12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

Darkness Mt 24:29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

Redemption Ge 15:14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.

Redemption Mt 24:30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

God has not finished

• Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

• We too are holding on to God’s promises • If you belong to Christ, then you are

Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. – Galatians 3:29