Introduction:
Advent – a time of waiting, but the very opposite of what the world is about for many people. We are encouraged not to wait but to have what we want now. Our credit-driven society encourages us to do this. We have become accustomed to immediacy and swift action.
So why does the Church have four weeks dedicated to waiting? Is it not time that we used Advent in a very different way?
“If we want to appreciate Advent fully we need to re-learn how to wait, to rediscover the art of savouring the future, of staying in the present and of finding meaning in the act of waiting.” (Paula Gooder). Do you agree with this sentiment?
What will you do different (if anything) to celebrate Advent this year?
God had called Abram (only later changed to Abraham) …. Genesis 12.1.
God made a great promise …. Genesis 12.2-3
And, amazingly, Abram obeyed …. Genesis 12.4
What do we know about Abram at this stage?
Now read Genesis 15.1-21
Abram had just defeated a large army made up of a partnership of four kings. He had every reason to be afraid, expecting an attack of retribution.
How did God reassure Abram? What is the significance of being a “shield” and a “reward”? (1)
What do you make of Abram’s response? (2-3) is he doubting God’s promise?
What is your understanding of verse 6?
Abram still questions God (7-8). This promise had already been given several times (12.1-3; 12.7; 13.15-17) but he still boldly asks for proof. Do you see this as reasonable/acceptable behaviour?
What do you make of this rather strange event in verses 9-16?
Is there any significance of the mention of an OVEN and a TORCH (17-21)? And why does Abram not sign the covenant?
PRAYER
Pray for all that will take place in the life of our church as we build up to the joy of Christmas Day.
Pray that each one will reflect on how it might be appropriate to “wait on God” during this Advent time.
Are there any lessons to be learned from today’s study? Thank God that his promises are never given in vain.
Praise God that our faith in Him is counted to us as righteousness!
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
What do we know about Abram at this stage?
Ur of the Chaldees was a city dominated by worship of the moon-god Nanna, and he was probably brought up to worship this god along with his father (Joshua 24.2). He was not looking for God when God came looking for him. Ur was a sophisticated city so Abram may well have accumulated many possessions.
He was married to his half-sister and was not the first-born son – in a culture where the rights of inheritance belonged entirely to the elder brother (Haran). And he and his wife were childless. God was looking for a couple who could found a mighty race – who was less qualified that Abram?
All we can say is that he took God at his word and did as God commanded (Hebrews 11.8-12).
Be encouraged … Abram was not chosen because he was devout or virtuous or well-connected. He was chosen because he was a weak man who believed God would be strong on his behalf. God is not looking for heroes who possess great natural promise!
How did God reassure Abram? What is the significance of being a “shield” and a “reward”? (1)
A SHIELD can be seen as providing protection. It is not a promise that no harm will happen. Shields do not prevent wars but they do offer a degree of protection against an enemy’s arrows. As for REWARD, Abram had refused a great reward offered by the king of Sidon (14.21-24). Abram may have given up a great deal in terms of wealth but, in God’s eyes, he would never be a loser.
What do you make of Abram’s response? (2-3) is he doubting God’s promise?
“What good is it that you are my shield and my reward? Where are the descendants you promised?” Eliezer was Abram’s chief servant but not a son. Perhaps we can see a difference between a doubt that DENIES and a doubt that DESIRES God’s promise – Abram wanted to believe and looked to God to strengthen his faith. So God gives him reassurance (4-5), but he still had to wait another 15 years!
What is your understanding of verse 6?
When Abram put his trust in God and his promise, God credited/accounted this belief as righteousness. There are two types of righteousness:
accomplished by our own efforts
that accounted to us by the work of God when we believe
We can never attain righteousness by route 1; we need to do what Abram did: he believed in the Lord. This is the first time the words BELIEVE and RIGHTEOUSNESS are used in the Bible and has been described as “the New Testament gospel in the Hebrew scriptures” (Romans 4.1-3). This was before Abram was circumcised (Ch. 17) so he was not made righteous because of any obedience or fulfilment of any religious law or ritual – “It was faith and faith alone that caused God to account Abram as righteous”. It was not so much that Abram BELIEVED IN GOD as that he BELIEVED GOD. Many people will say they believe in God (i.e. that God exists) but it makes no difference to the way they live (cf James 2.19).
Abram still questions God (7-8). This promise had already been given several times (12.1-3; 12.7; 13.15-17) but he still boldly asks for proof. Do you see this as reasonable/acceptable behaviour?
Abram had no title deeds to the land; no certificate of ownership. He had nothing to show that he owned the land, except for God’s promise.
What do you make of this rather strange event in verses 9-16?
Abram knew exactly what to do as this seems to have been the custom for making a covenant. The covenant was made when both parties to the agreement walked through the animal parts – cf Jer 34.18-20 many centuries later. The symbolism was twofold:
This is serious and requires the shedding of blood
If the covenant is broken, let the same bloodshed be poured on me
Abram is still seeking proof, but he is told all will not go well in the future. A dreadful aspect to an amazing promise (Ex 1.1-14). What a complicated blessing!
Is there any significance of the mention of an OVEN and a TORCH (17-21)? And why does Abram not sign the covenant?
Smoking oven – reminder of times smoke/cloud represented the presence of God (e.g. Ex 13.21-22; Ex 19.18; 1 Kings 8.10-12
Burning torch – reminder of the times fire represented the presence of God (e.g. Ex 13.21-22; Ex 3.4; 1 Kings 18.38
The covenant is based on who God is, not on Abram or what he might do. God is in effect saying, “If I don’t keep my word let ME be put asunder.” Abram could not break the covenant because he had not signed it. This was a promise of real land which his descendants would inherit, and it has been shown that, for a very brief time, this happened during the reign of King Solomon.