Genesis 15:1-16 // Believing the Unlikely

Verse 1 (I’m your shield)

Genesis 15:1 ESV

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

After the victory God reminded Abram of His continued presence.

I am your shield

Your reward shall be very great.

Verse 2-3 (I know you are but I’m struggling a little)

Genesis 15:2–3 ESV

But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”

See God in your victories not just your trials.

Abram never mentioned the about God being his shield.

He just came off a decisive victory

(318 men against 4 armies)

Don’t miss this Important point

Don’t just look for God in your trials.

See God in your victories.

Talk to God about the areas where your faith is hard.

This was not the first time God mentioned making Abram into a great nation.

But so far there was NO SIGN of this coming true.

I know God can do all things…but

It’s hard not to see this as having a time limit.

Each day that passes makes the possibility less likely.

Verse 4-5 (Let me remind you of my promise)

Genesis 15:4–5 ESV

And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

A huge part of our faith journey is simply remembering the promises God has given us.

· This was not a “new” promise. God was reminding him of His continued promise.

Verse 6 (Abraham Believed)

Genesis 15:6 ESV

And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

What some call unreasonable hope scripture calls great faith.

· To understand the weight of verse 6 you have to read in context.

o (read Abraham’s words again (verse 2-3)

Romans 4:18–19 ESV

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.

· NLT – Even when there was no reason for hope.

· His body was a good as dead & Sarah was barren.

Verse 7 (I am the Lord who…)

Genesis 15:7 ESV

And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

We gain support in our faith is when we recall that the same God is working the same plan for our life.

It is a good practice to look forward to the goal of our faith (eternity with God)

But sometimes you can also look back on where God has brought you.

Chart Your history and look for God’s fingerprints in your life.

Verse 8 (Well since you brought it up…)

Genesis 15:8 ESV

But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

Verse 9-16 (A better perspective of faith)

God established a covenant with Abraham.

(Part of that covenant was a new perspective)

Your offspring shall be sojourners (like you are)

They will be servants

They will be afflicted for 400 years

(but)

I will bring judgement on the nation they serve

They will come out with great possessions

You will be buried but they will come back here

Why is it all happening this way?

Genesis 15:16 ESV

And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

(verse 16): “The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

Limited faith is based on God promises from a perspective of our plans.

Deep faith is based on God promises from a perspective of God’s plans.