The Promise Keeper – (Genesis 15)

Abram had just emerged victorious in battle, yet his heart was not at ease. He had refused the plunder offered by the king of Sodom, choosing instead to honour the LORD, as affirmed by the priest-king Melchizedek. Even in his triumph, a quiet emptiness lingered, perhaps triggered by Lot’s decision to return to Sodom, leaving Abram without an heir.

…the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” – Genesis 15:1 (NIV)

It was in this moment of uncertainty that the LORD appeared to Abram. God spoke not of material wealth or earthly gain, but of something far greater—His own presence as Abram’s shield and reward. But Abram’s heart longed for something different. His desires were fixed on an heir, a future secured through a child of his own. Yet, God’s promise pointed to a reward beyond what Abram could even begin to fathom.

Our Desires are Seldom Aligned with His

But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” – Genesis 15:2 (NIV)

Abram misinterprets God’s promise, assuming it refers to worldly blessings of wealth and property. He openly expresses his concern, claiming that an inheritance is meaningless without a legal heir. With no son of his own, he fears his servant Eliezer’s family will ultimately benefit from God’s blessings. In those times, childless men often adopted trusted servants as heirs, and Abram may have been contemplating taking this step. His distress deepens when God appears to him in a vision. Though his reaction may seem self-centered, he is at least honest with God about his doubts and fears.

Abram’s response, though seemingly shortsighted, reflects both his vulnerability and his faith. Despite his desperation and concern about his future descendants, he did not turn away from God but instead brought his doubts directly to Him. Rather than passively accepting the promise, Abram sought clarity, demonstrating an honest and relational faith. This openness allowed God to strengthen his trust and move him forward in faith.

Likewise, we might have similar moments of doubt, but bottling them up inside and rigidly adhering to a religious mindset will only harm us in the long run, as we may lack true faith and instead feel merely obligated to follow a set of rules laid down by our religion. When we are honest with God about our doubts, He helps us move forward in our faith and overcome them.

The Author of Faith

Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir. ” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars —if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:6 (NIV)

The author adds a footnote at the end summarising Abram’s journey with God, showing how he eventually demonstrated unwavering trust in God—even to the point of being willing to sacrifice the very son he had longed for. This ultimate act of obedience is what led to his faith being credited as righteousness. However, at this particular moment, he is neither fully faithful nor inherently righteous.

Abram is still struggling with his faith, not able to trust God’s plan, and true righteousness is not something we attain on our own but is granted by God, who alone can set us right with Him. Abram is recognized as the father of faith, and the four major religions trace their origins to him, looking to his example of faith. However, in the words of Jesus, there is someone greater than Abraham who we must look to to complete our faith.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” – John 8:58 (ESV)

Our faith is what makes us righteous, not our deeds. Abram had faith that God could give him and Sarah a son, even when their bodies were weakened by old age. It is our trust in God, believing that He will make us whole, even when our bodies are weakened by the corruption of the world. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It is God who initiates the faith within us and provides the support and strength needed to bring it to completion.

The Promise Renewed

…“I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” – Genesis 15:7 (NIV)

God reminds Abram of the purpose for which He brought him out of his father’s household—to be separated. We are set apart for the glory of God, not for the glorification of ourselves, but for God’s honor. However, Abraham sought proof and asked God for a sign to confirm that these possessions would truly be his.

But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” – Genesis 15:8 (NIV)

Is it a fair question? Perhaps we’ve all asked something similar at some point. Does this show that Abram had faith? Even though Abram questioned God, God still credited his faith as righteousness. The truth is, God doesn’t require us to have perfect faith; if He waited for us to reach that level, none of us would be worthy. Yet, while we were still sinners, He made us righteous (Romans 5:8). However, we cannot rely on signs to build our faith, as doing so will leave our faith incomplete. We must replace our reliance on signs and wonders with His words, growing in them and drawing closer to Him to understand His purpose. Otherwise, our faith will remain stuck on day one, merely impressed by a sign or miracle we witnessed, without truly holding on to God’s hand afterward.

A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. – (Matthew 16:4, NIV)

God gave Abram the sign he sought by instructing him to prepare a covenant ceremony with specific animals. Abram cut the animals in half, except for the birds, and arranged them opposite each other. When birds of prey attempted to descend, Abram drove them away. As night fell, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and God revealed that his descendants would be enslaved in a foreign land for four hundred years but would eventually leave with great possessions. Abram would die peacefully at a good old age, and in the fourth generation, his descendants would return when the sin of the Amorites reached its full measure.

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. – Genesis 15:17 (NIV)

In ancient times, covenants were sometimes solemnized by walking between the pieces of slaughtered animals, a practice that represented a self-maledictory oath, where the parties involved pledged that the same fate would befall them if they failed to keep their promise. God’s presence, in the form of a smoking firepot and a blazing torch, appeared before Abram and walked between the split carcasses of the animals.

While this ritual may seem strange to us, Abram would have been familiar with it and understood the significance of what God was doing. Instead of both parties walking through the split carcasses, only God walked through, signifying that if He failed to fulfill His promise, the same fate should befall Him. Abram was merely an observer and didn’t have to risk anything; his role was simply to have faith in God—the promise giver, fulfiller, and keeper.

Discussion Questions

1. Was Abram short-sighted in questioning God’s promise to him?
2. Do we, like Abram, question God’s promise when faced with uncertainty and challenges in life?
3. How can doubting Abram’s faith still be credited to him as righteousness?
4. Should we be asking for signs from God to build up our faith?
5. What did the smoking pot symbolize in the covenant ceremony?