This is the second of a three-part series that will explore Genesis 15
2. See Past Circumstances
The life lived in between the promise and the fulfillment, must be able to see past circumstances. All Abram could see what Eliezer. But God could see descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore! God could see way beyond what Abram could see.
You see, God often works more slowly than we'd like. He was certainly working more slowly than Abram wanted. And all we can see is what we can see. We look around at our circumstances and ask, What are you doing, God? Do you see where things are at? Do you see what's happening here?
But, for that in-between life, we have a secret weapon: God himself. He spoke to Abram and told him about something beyond what Abram could see. And we have page after page of God's word. It is his way of drawing us into a better reality. He paints the picture there of what he is doing beyond our circumstances.
The ability to see past your circumstances and into God's reality is powerful. Is it not the skill Paul the Apostle had when he pushed past all his suffering in order to preach the gospel? He knew there was more to life than his circumstances.
6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
The Father of Faith
Abram heard the promise of God and believed the Lord (6). It almost seems like an unnatural place for this belief to occur. God had already given Abram major promises in Genesis 12. Abram had worshipped the Lord at various altars he'd built in Genesis 12-13. The Lord had shown Abram the land he would give to him and his descendants in Genesis 13. And God had infused him with power to fight and given him the Melchizedekian blessing in Genesis 14. Only now do we learn Abram believed the Lord and the Lord counted it to Abram as righteousness (6).
Is this the first time Abram believed God? Is this the moment of his conversion? Is he "saved" here at this episode?
It seems better to think of this as a summary statement of Abram's interactions with God. Generally, he believed God's promises, both here and earlier. God loved this faith and counted it to Abram as righteousness.
Imputed Righteousness
Modern believers know this is a pivotal moment in Scripture. When writing about righteousness apart from the keeping of the law in Romans, Paul said:
"What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:1–3, ESV).
He again used Genesis 15:6 in a similar way in Galatians 3:6. It was faith that unlocked the deposit of righteousness into Abraham's account. He believed God, and God made him righteous.
Today, we are also called to believe the promise and revelation God has given. We know more than Abraham. The cross is in our rearview mirror. We know God the Son died in our place on the cross. We know the offer of forgiveness and redemption is held out to those who believe the cross to be the only means of salvation. And our faith in the promise of the cross leads God to deposit righteousness into our accounts. He counts -- or imputes -- righteousness to those who believe.
And the righteousness we receive is the righteousness of Jesus. He came and lived a sinless and perfect life. He amassed perfect right-living before the Father. He kept the whole law of God right down to the core of his heart. And when we believe in Christ, the righteousness of Christ is imputed into our account. This is one of the reasons Jesus had to live a full life, rather than merely die as a child for our sins. He needed to fulfill all righteousness. He had to live out a righteous life. And it's his righteousness or record we receive deposited to our account.
If deposit or count sounds like financial terms, it's because they are. Imagine having a hundred dollars in your bank account. It's all you have. Then imagine a billionaire deposits their wealth into your account. That's the idea behind imputed righteousness; the righteousness of Jesus Christ has been deposited into the account of those who believe in him.
Works Cannot Save
Abraham's faith annihilates all the other false-religions of the world. Though they've taken wildly varying forms, they share one thing in common. Salvation lies within you. Do specific things, and you can be saved. Be good. Be obedient. Be holy. Do random acts of kindness. However you want to say it -- be a good person, and you'll be saved.
But there are no good people. We've all been corrupted by sin. It has destroyed us. We cannot be right with God by our works. It cannot happen. There is no code of conduct, no law, you can keep to make yourself righteous.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (Romans 3:21–22, ESV).
Works Are Good
Now all this talk of imputed righteousness might make someone think we don't believe in doing good works. Not at all. People who receive the deposit of Christ's righteousness should demonstrate countless good works. And Abraham is a great example of good works.
James wrote about this side of things. While Paul pointed to Abraham's faith, James pointed to Abraham's works. He wanted to motivate his audience to live in obedience to God. He specifically mentioned the way Abraham became willing to offer Isaac to God on the altar. It was a major act of devotion, a good work. James said, at that moment,
The Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:23, ESV).
But the beautiful thing we learn from James' use of Abraham is that works follow faith. We believe in Jesus. Righteousness is deposited into our account. And then we jut out from our new position of righteousness into a life of good works! We aren't trying to earn a thing. We are merely trying to be who he's made us to be! We are now righteous people!
3. Believe God's Word and Promises
As awesome as it is to consider the soteriological ramifications of Abraham's faith, when we consider his belief in the setting of this episode, it speaks to us in an additional way. He was living in between the promise and the fulfillment, and God reassured him of the future he'd planned for Abram. And the man believed God.
We must believe his word to us as his people. We have great and precious promises in Christ. We must believe in redemption, restoration, cleansing, forgiveness, and the kingdom he has promised.
I think of Joshua. He was the man who replaced Moses. He was called by God to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. He was a man who very much lived in between the promise and the fulfillment. And, rather than run in fear, he courageously led the people into the land. And God met him in the process. He believed God's word and promises. Because he did, they received the land God had in store.
What does God have in store for you? Believe him and his promises.
The Covenant (15:7-21)
7 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."
A Covenant With Abraham
When God said this, it would've sounded very similar to a later word from God to the people of Israel after he'd brought them out of their slavery in Egypt.
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." (Exodus 20:2, ESV).
Those words marked the beginning of Israel's covenant with God on Mount Sinai, and the words here in Genesis mark the beginning of God's covenant with Abraham. God had brought Abram out from Ur in order to give him the land to possess (7).
8 But he said, "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
Questions
God's promise of the land brought questions up in Abram's mind: "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" (8). He'd heard God's promises before, but now he wanted some assurances. How would this actually happen? Would God promise him?
Beautifully, God was not exasperated with his man or his questioning. Instead, he initiated a time of promise-keeping and covenant-making, telling Abram to bring various animals for sacrifice. God was ready to make a guarantee with his man. God was willing to graciously condescend to his beloved and chosen man.
Abram Drove Them Away
So Abram did as God told him, bringing a three years old heifer, female goat, and ram, along with a turtledove and young pigeon (9). He cut all the animals except the birds in half, laying them out before God (10).
But with the sacrifice prepared, birds of prey came down on the carcasses (11). And Abram responded to this evil omen by driving them away (11). He is pictured as striving to keep those who would ruin the covenant away. He had to struggle.
In a moment, God will foretell of a long period of enslavement for Abram's descendants. Like these predatory birds, Egypt would come against the covenant people. But God would be faithful to Abram, and he would be faithful to Israel.
The Sacrifice
The cutting of the animals in half seems to speak of cutting or making a covenant with someone. God and Abram understood the practice, even if we do not.
But the animals of the covenant offering are interesting. Some see an allusion to Jesus in this sacrifice, a precursor to the worship system Israel later engaged in, a system that pointed to fulfillment in Jesus. That these animals were three years old only highlights the parallel with Christ, for he was crucified after three years of public ministry.
