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Genesis 15

 

  1. Verse 1 begins with “After this,” or “After these things.”  After what things?

 

 

The verse then tells us that the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision.  What does this mean to you?

 

 

Do you believe God still speaks to people today through visions?  If so, can you give an example?

 

 

  1. Read carefully what God says to Abram.  How did God know Abram was afraid?

 

 

After such a resounding victory, why might Abram be afraid?

 

 

Do you think this due to a lack of fear?  Please explain.

 

 

Does God criticize Abram or seem disappointed in him?  Please explain.

 

 

Do you think less of Abram because he was afraid?  Please explain.

 

 

What can we learn about God from this exchange?  About Abram?

 

 

What comfort can we draw from God’s words to Abram?

 

 

  1. What does God say to Abram?

 

 

What does God mean when He says He is Abram’s shield

 

 

In what way is God Abram’s “very great reward”?

 

 

In what way is God our “very great reward”?

 

 

  1. How does Abram respond to God’s words?

 

 

Does this show a lack of faith?

 

 

Who is Eliezer?

 

 

Why would he inherit Abram’s estate?

 

 

How does this conflict with God’s plan for Abram?

 

 

  1. Abram tells God that God has not given him a son.  What does this reveal about Abram?

 

 

Is Abram blaming God?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. Again, God is not upset by Abram’s concern.  Instead, He seeks to ease Abram’s doubt.  What does this tell us about God?

 

 

In what way or ways has God sought to answer your doubts?

 

 

Some people believe that having doubts shows a lack of faith.  How would you respond?

 

 

What does God tell Abram?

 

Read verse 5 carefully.  If you were Abram, what would this promise mean to you?

 

 

What significance does this promise hold for us today?

 

 

  1. Verse 6 is an important verse.  After God spoke to Abram, what did Abram do?

 

 

What does it mean to you that God credited it to Abram as righteousness?

 

 

Read Romans 4:20-24.  What do these verses mean to you?

 

 

Can you give an example of someone who heard God or Jesus speak, yet did not believe Him?

 

 

How do you think Abram was able to believe God when the situation looked so hopeless?  (Look back at all Abram had been through.)

 

 

How would you respond to someone who asked you if you were righteous?  Please explain.

 

 

How does this verse relate to Romans 10:9-10 and Ephesians 2:8?

 

 

  1. What else does God say to Abram in verse 7?

 

 

What does it mean to you that God is giving the land to Abram so he can take possession of it?

 

 

This is important.  Does the land still belong to Abram’s descendants?

 

 

How does this impact “land for peace” between Israel and the Palestinians?

 

 

  1. God says to Abram, “I am the LORD.”  Sometimes lord is spelling in all capitals (LORD) and sometimes with one capital (Lord).  What is the difference?

 

 

The Hebrew for LORD is YHVH.  The Jews used no vowels because they considered God’s name to be so holy that it should not be pronounced, thus making it very difficult to take His name in vain.  Do we show the same reverence for His name?

 

 

Later, God tells us not to take His name in vain.  What have you been taught this means?

 

 

Another translation reads that we are not to misuse the LORD’s name.  How is this different? 

 

How can one “misuse” God’s name?

 

 

To help us read the Bible, scholars added vowels to YHVH, which yielded YeHoVaH or Jehovah.  No question here.  Just a little information

 

 

  1. Read verse 8.  What question does Abram ask God?

 

 

Does this sound as if Abram is doubting God?  (Look again at verse 6.)

 

 

What is the difference between seeking confirmation and doubting?

 

 

  1. In response to Abram’s question, God chooses to confirm His promise with a covenant.  We have talked about a covenant before (Adam and Noah) so let’s do a little review.  What is a covenant?

 

 

How does it differ from a contract or an agreement? 

 

 

In what way did Jesus seal His promise to us with a covenant?

 

 

  1. God is going to cut a covenant with Abram.  What does God instruct Abram to do?

 

 

What was Abram to do with these animals?

 

 

What is the significance of verse 11?

 

 

Now, this may seem strange to us, but Abram probably knew what was happening.  What can you learn about how people in this area ratified a covenant and about the part the animals played?

 

 

  1. What happened to Abram as he waited upon the LORD?

 

 

This is the same sleep God put upon Adam (see Gen. 2:21).  Why might God place Abram in such a deep sleep?

 

 

What does it mean to you that a “dreadful darkness came over him”?  (The KJV reads “an horrorH367 of greatH1419 darknessH2825 fellH5307 upon him.”)

 

 

  1. Abram is now having a prophetic vision.  What does this mean to you?

 

 

Read vv. 13-16.  What does God tell Abram?

 

 

Why do you believe God began this vision by telling Abram his descendents would be enslaved and mistreated?

 

What would your reaction be to news of this sort?

 

 

Now, what might be one reason God had Abram in a deep sleep?

 

 

We know this part of the prophetic promise comes true with Israel’s being enslaved in Egypt.  What can we learn about God from this?

 

 

  1. Verse 16 tells us that Abram’s descendents will not return until the fourth generation.  Why?

 

 

What does it mean to you that the sin of the Amorites had not reached its full measure?  And what did this have to do with Abram’s descendants?

 

 

What was going to happen to the Amorites when their sin reached its full measure?  (Remember Sodom and Gomorrah.)

 

 

Why was God willing to wait 400 years?

 

 

What can we learn about God’s mercy, judgment, and patience from this episode?

 

 

Does this help explain why some countries or regimes seem to prosper?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. Verse 17 tells us that the sun set again.  How long has Abram been in a deep sleep?

 

 

Who or what is represented by the smoking firepot?

 

 

What does this firepot do?

 

 

What is the significance of God passing through the two halves of the animals?

 

 

Why does Abram not have to pass through them?

 

 

What does this tell us about God’s covenant with Abram?

 

 

In what way does this point the way to the covenant we have with Jesus?

 

 

  1. What is the covenant God makes with Abram?

 

 

On a map, can you identify the land that God gave to Abram’s descendants?

 

 

Is this covenant still in effect?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. This is a key chapter in the history of Israel and of the church.  What have you learned from this chapter?