Genesis 15 is probably my favorite chapter in the bible! It starts out with Abram being honest with God because he didn't know how God was going to fulfill his promise to Abram. It is ok to be honest with God and to tell him what you really think, he already knows it anyways! Honesty is important in any kind of relationship!
Instead of being mad at Abram, God reminded him that he is God just like he did Job. Abram believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness! It is an amazing thing when you get honest with God and tell him your doubts and feelings, but don't stop there! Look up and trust that the God who created the stars is able to "do all things and no purpose of his can be thwarted (Job 42:2)" is able to carry out his plan for your life!
What's crazier is that God didn't stop there! Remember reading verses 9-11? It was a little strange wasn't it? Lol Well this is the way people made a contract back then. How it works is when two people come to an agreement (like a marriage for example), they will take some animals, cut them in half and place them apart from each other. Those two people will then "pass between the pieces" as a way of saying, "if I break my end of the contract, may I be like these animals." Intense right? Lol do you know what's even more awesome!? I'm glad you asked :) If you have read all of Genesis 15, you will see that Abram did not "pass between the pieces." The only thing that passed through were smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which basically means God walked through the pieces alone!! Which is to say that if God breaks the contract, he will become like the animals, but not only that, if Abram (or anybody else) breaks the contract, God will become like the animals. So whether or not we keep the contract, God will bear our punishment. Doesn't that sound familiar?
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD ha laid on him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53: 4-6
The sad part is that we did not keep our end of the deal. But God was faithful to his promise even when we are not, even to the point of the cross. He took the punishment that we deserved. Isn't that awesome!?!? I hope you see why this is my favorite chapter in the bible :]
Instead of being mad at Abram, God reminded him that he is God just like he did Job. Abram believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness! It is an amazing thing when you get honest with God and tell him your doubts and feelings, but don't stop there! Look up and trust that the God who created the stars is able to "do all things and no purpose of his can be thwarted (Job 42:2)" is able to carry out his plan for your life!
What's crazier is that God didn't stop there! Remember reading verses 9-11? It was a little strange wasn't it? Lol Well this is the way people made a contract back then. How it works is when two people come to an agreement (like a marriage for example), they will take some animals, cut them in half and place them apart from each other. Those two people will then "pass between the pieces" as a way of saying, "if I break my end of the contract, may I be like these animals." Intense right? Lol do you know what's even more awesome!? I'm glad you asked :) If you have read all of Genesis 15, you will see that Abram did not "pass between the pieces." The only thing that passed through were smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which basically means God walked through the pieces alone!! Which is to say that if God breaks the contract, he will become like the animals, but not only that, if Abram (or anybody else) breaks the contract, God will become like the animals. So whether or not we keep the contract, God will bear our punishment. Doesn't that sound familiar?
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD ha laid on him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53: 4-6
The sad part is that we did not keep our end of the deal. But God was faithful to his promise even when we are not, even to the point of the cross. He took the punishment that we deserved. Isn't that awesome!?!? I hope you see why this is my favorite chapter in the bible :]
I don't think I've ever really studied Genesis 15. It's so refreshing that we can be honest with God. Especially since He knows all of our imperfections already! Thanks for posting this, Harold! It's a reminder I definitely need right now! He is faithful!
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