Bible Talks: Abraham the man of faith-Genesis 15:6-16

From: Messages of God's Love: 1965

Genesis 15:6-16⁶And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. ⁷And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. ⁸And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? ⁹And 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. ¹⁰And 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. ¹¹And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. ¹²And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. ¹³And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; ¹⁴And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. ¹⁵And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. ¹⁶But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. (Genesis 15:6‑16)

“And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” verse 6. This is a very important verse, being repeated frequently in the New Testament. Where it is quoted in James 2:23²³And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23), it is said of Abraham, “And he was called the Friend of God.” What a lovely expression? Would you also like to be a friend of God, dear reader? The same faith that led Abram to believe God’s promise, when acting in your heart to believe on the Son of God as your Saviour, will also bring you to Him in peace, and He will then count you as His friend. “I have called you friends.” John 15:15¹⁵Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15). What a contrast between the friend of God and the friend of the world! “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4⁴Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4).

Abram’s faith was imputed to him for righteousness. It was not his works, nor his testimony, nor his words, but his faith that God looked upon. “For by grace are ye saved through faith;... it is the gift of God; not of works.” Ephesians 2:8,9⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9).

Although Abram’s faith accepted the promise, he was still perplexed to know how these things should be. “And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” God told him to take a heifer, a she goat, and a ram, all of three years old, a turtle dove and a young pigeon. These he divided in the midst, except the birds, and laid them one against another. “And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.” The Lord here confirms through death the covenant regarding the earthly seed and the land (assured in the death of Christ, without which they could have nothing). It was the earthly seed, Israel, who would inherit the land, but Abraham (heir of the promises) undergoes the terror and shadow of it.

“And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again.” 10:13-16. As we look back over Israel’s history we can plainly see how these things came to pass in exactly the same manner and times that God foretold.

Abram, however, had to accept this all in faith, knowing that God’s ways would prevail. He, like many another Old Testament saint, who trusted in God, was precious to Him. Of them it is written: “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... wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:13-16¹³These 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. ¹⁴For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. ¹⁵And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. ¹⁶But 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. (Hebrews 11:13‑16).

ML 06/06/1965

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