Genesis 15:1-19
Notes
Transcript
After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.
But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.”
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”
He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”
But he said, “Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?”
He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half.
Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
As for those who disobeyed my covenant, not keeping the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat them like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.
As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.
When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.