Introduction
We continue our journey through the book of Genesis from chapter 13. We left Abram just as he separated from his nephew Lot.
Questions
1. To what did God liken the large number of the offspring he promised Abram?
v 5 ... “Look now towards the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”
2. What was the result of Abram believing God's promise that he would have a child?
v 6 He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.
3. In verse 18 Abram’s offspring are promised all the land from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt. Looking at the map of Canaanite nations, what countries occupy these lands now?
These lands are currently occupied by Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 5 God tells Abram he will have a child and eventually many offspring
- v 6 Because Abram believes that God will do what he says despite it sounding unlikely, God regards him as "righteous" (or right in his eyes)
- v 7 and 8 Abram questions God's assurance that he will inherit the land God has promised
- v 9 to 12 God tells Abram to bring a heifer (young cow), a goat and a ram (male sheep) together with a turtledove and a young pigeon. Abram kills the animals and divides the carcases. He then goes into a deep sleep
- v 13 to 16 God promises that Abram's offspring will be slaves in a foreign land and then return
- v 17 to 21 After dark a smoking furnace and a flaming torch move between the divided carcases (a ritual of the time to make a covenant). God then makes a covenant with Abram that he will give a specified land to his offspring