Abram (Abraham) had already received the promise of a land and a nation (Genesis 12:1-3 [1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
See All...). In fact, God had already shown him the Promised Land (Genesis 13:14-17 [14] And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: [15] For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. [16] And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. [17] Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
See All...). In this chapter, God establishes His promise of a seed to Abraham and confirms His promise with a covenant. We know this as the Abrahamic Covenant.

What Does It Say?

1. Abram was promised that his servant would not be his heir but “he that shall come forth out of thine own _________ shall be thine _________.”
2. Abram was instructed to sacrifice an _________, a she goat, a ram, a ___________, and a young pigeon.
3. When the ________ came down upon the carcases of the animals, Abram _________ them away.
4. The Lord told Abram of his descendants that in the ________ generation they shall come again, but for now the iniquity of the ____________ is not yet full.
5. The Lord promised to Abram’s seed the land from the river of _________ unto the great river, the river ____________.

What Does It Mean?

1. The Lord described Himself as Abram’s shield and as his exceeding great reward (v.1). Why did God describe Himself in this way? How do these two characteristics complement one another?       
2. In verse twelve, “a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.” Compare this to the sleep that came upon Adam when the Lord took from him a rib and made the woman (Genesis 2:21-22 [21] And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; [22] And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
   See All...). Sleep is often used as a picture of death (see John 11:11-14 [11] These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
   See All...). What meaning do you see in the deep sleep of Abram in Genesis 15? What is the typology?
3. The slain animals were laid out with pieces on each side and a space in the middle (Genesis 15:9-10 [9] And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. [10] And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
   See All...). Later, a smoking furnace and a burning lamp passed between the pieces (Genesis 15:17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
   See All...). Why is God seen as a smoking furnace and a burning lamp? What is the significance of God passing through the pieces while Abram is in a deep sleep? Compare the making of a covenant in Jeremiah 34:18-19 [18] And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, [19] The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;
   See All.... How does it compare with Genesis 15? How is it different?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. Genesis 15:6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
   See All... says, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” What is this talking about? Look up where this verse is quoted in Romans 4:3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
   See All... and Galatians 3:6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
   See All.... What is the significance of Abram’s faith according to the New Testament passages? How does this apply to us?
2. God told Abram that his seed would be “a stranger in a land that is not theirs” (v.13). What is a stranger? God’s people are often called strangers in the Bible. See Exodus 2:22And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
   See All...; Psalm 39:12Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
   See All...; Psalm 119:19I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
   See All...; 1 Peter 2:11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
   See All...; Hebrews 11:13-16 [13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [14] For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. [15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. [16] But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
   See All.... What characteristics of strangers apply to Christians today? How are you to be a stranger?

Suggested Memory Verses

Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
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