Genesis Chapter 15 Bible Study – God’s Word Comes to Abram in a Vision

Genesis 15 opens with God speaking to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). This assurance comes after Abram’s refusal of Sodom’s spoils in Genesis 14:22-23. God affirms that He Himself is Abram’s ultimate protection and reward, greater than any earthly possession.

This mirrors Psalm 84:11, where God is described as a “sun and shield,” and reinforces that true security and blessing come from Him, not from alliances or wealth. The command “Fear not” appears repeatedly in Scripture when God is about to reveal or confirm a major promise (Isaiah 41:10; Luke 1:30).

Abram’s Concern About an Heir

Despite God’s assurances, Abram voices his concern in Genesis 15:2-3: “What wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless?” Abram points out that Eliezer of Damascus, his servant, stands to inherit his estate. This shows Abram’s human longing for a biological heir and his struggle to reconcile God’s promises with his current circumstances.

Similar questions arise later when Zechariah doubts the angel’s promise of a son due to his and Elizabeth’s old age (Luke 1:18). Both examples reveal that faith can wrestle with uncertainty without disqualifying a believer from God’s blessings.

God’s Promise of a Biological Heir

In Genesis 15:4, God responds directly: “This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.” The phrase “out of thine own bowels” confirms that the promised heir will be Abram’s biological son, not an adopted servant.

This specific assurance builds on God’s earlier promise in Genesis 12:2 and points forward to the miraculous birth of Isaac in Genesis 21:1-3. The declaration mirrors Romans 4:21, where Paul states that Abraham was “fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

The Stars as a Sign of Descendants

God then takes Abram outside and tells him to look toward heaven and count the stars, saying, “So shall thy seed be” (Genesis 15:5). This imagery complements the earlier metaphor of descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16).

The stars symbolize not just number but also divine permanence, as Jeremiah 33:22 affirms that the seed of David and the Levites will be as countless as the stars. In Philippians 2:15, believers are compared to “lights in the world,” showing that Abram’s descendants would have spiritual as well as physical significance.

Abram’s Faith is Counted as Righteousness

Genesis 15:6 is a foundational verse: “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” This is the first explicit statement in Scripture linking faith and righteousness. Paul cites it in Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, and James 2:23 to illustrate that justification before God is by faith, not works.

This moment sets the precedent for salvation by faith in Christ, showing that righteousness is imputed, not earned. Hebrews 11:6 confirms that without faith, it is impossible to please God.

The Promise of the Land Reaffirmed

God reminds Abram in Genesis 15:7 that He brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees to give him the land of Canaan. This recalls Genesis 12:1-3 and foreshadows the covenant renewal in Genesis 17. Abram’s journey from Ur parallels Israel’s later exodus from Egypt, where God delivers His people to bring them into their inheritance (Exodus 3:8).

Abram Requests Confirmation

Abram asks, “Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” (Genesis 15:8). This is not disbelief but a request for assurance, similar to Gideon’s request for a sign in Judges 6:17. God responds by initiating a formal covenant ceremony, accommodating Abram’s human need for tangible confirmation.

The Covenant Ceremony with Sacrificial Animals

In Genesis 15:9-10, God instructs Abram to bring a heifer, a she-goat, a ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Abram cuts the larger animals in half and lays the pieces opposite each other, a practice common in ancient covenant-making (Jeremiah 34:18-19). The birds are not divided, reflecting specific sacrificial customs.

This act signifies a binding agreement, where the parties involved pass between the pieces, symbolizing the seriousness of the covenant—essentially declaring, “May this be done to me if I break this agreement.”

Birds of Prey and Abram’s Vigilance

Genesis 15:11 notes that birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. These birds can symbolize opposing forces that try to disrupt God’s covenant purposes, much like the devil who snatches away the word from hearts in Jesus’ parable of the sower (Matthew 13:4,19). Abram’s act of driving them away reflects the believer’s role in guarding what God has entrusted (1 Timothy 6:20).

The Deep Sleep and Prophecy of Israel’s Future

As the sun sets, Abram falls into a deep sleep, and a great horror of darkness falls upon him (Genesis 15:12). God reveals that Abram’s descendants will be strangers in a land not theirs, will serve them, and be afflicted for 400 years (Genesis 15:13). This prophecy is fulfilled in Israel’s enslavement in Egypt (Exodus 1:8-14).

God also promises judgment on the nation that enslaves them and assures their eventual return with great possessions (Genesis 15:14), echoing the events of the Exodus (Exodus 12:35-36).

Personal Promise to Abram

In Genesis 15:15, God tells Abram he will go to his fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. This personal promise assures Abram of a long, fulfilled life, similar to the blessings promised in Proverbs 3:1-2 and Psalm 91:16.

The Iniquity of the Amorites

God explains in Genesis 15:16 that Abram’s descendants will return to Canaan in the fourth generation because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” This shows God’s patience in delaying judgment until wickedness reaches its fullness, as also seen in 2 Peter 3:9, where God is “longsuffering” toward sinners.

God Passes Between the Pieces

When the sun sets, a smoking furnace and a burning lamp pass between the pieces (Genesis 15:17). These symbols represent God’s presence—fire and smoke often mark divine manifestation, as in Exodus 19:18 and Isaiah 6:4. Significantly, only God passes through, showing that the covenant’s fulfillment depends entirely on Him, not Abram.

The Covenant Defined

Genesis 15:18-21 records the formal covenant: God gives Abram’s seed the land from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates, listing ten nations currently inhabiting it. This geographical span will only be fully realized under Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:21).

This land grant is unconditional, reaffirming God’s sovereign choice and faithfulness to His promises (Psalm 105:8-11).