Genesis 15

Notes compiled from my BSF group

GOD PROMISES ABRAM A SON (Genesis 15:1-5)

"O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless" (Genesis 15:1-3)
In Genesis 12:7, God promised Abram: "To your offspring I will give this land."

In Genesis 15:1, God told Abram that He was Abram’s great award, and Abram answered, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."

Abram knew God promised him offspring, but he had already lived a long life, and yet he was still without a child. To Abram, the best comfort and award was to have a son.

"Look up at the heavens and count the stars--If indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be" (Genesis 15:4-5)
Eliezer will not inherit Abram's estate. God promised Abram will have a son who would be his heir. In fact, his offspring, as God promised, would be as many as the number of stars.


THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY HIS FAITH (Genesis 15:6)

God credited Abram’s faith as righteousness (Genesis 15:6)
Genesis 15:6 and John 8:56 both show that God credited Abram’s faith as righteousness.

What do we learn from this? When we have the kind of faith in God that Abram exhibited, that is an example of righteousness.

Habakkuk 2:4
"The righteous will live by his faith."

This phrase is quoted 3 times in the New Testament: Romans 1, Galatians 3, and Hebrews 10.

The historical context of this verse is that God had told the prophet Habakkuk that Babylon would come and take over the Southern Kingdom (which indeed happened in 586 BC, where Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed). God also told Habakkuk that Babylon would not wipe out the Israelites completely. There would be a remnant that survives. And ultimately, Babylon would also be judged for its wickedness.
Habakkuk 2:4 therefore refers to the remnant, the justified, of Israelites that would be saved from the Babylonian captivity.

Paul used this phrase to explain the concept of salvation according to the Christian faith. Salvation therefore has 3 components:

1. Righteousness
Righteousness is achieved through living PERFECTLY according to God's standard. This is impossible to do on our own. Thus, we need God's guidance and support.

2. Faith (Galatians 3:2)
Faith is our complete dependence in God, our complete trust in God. We may not be able to know exactly what's going on, but we have unwavering faith in God that He loves us and does what's best for us.

3. Life
Eternal life is achieved completely through Jesus Christ, not by our works but by Jesus alone.

The amount of faith that Abram exhibited was declared righteous because despite seeing how impossible the situation was for MAN, he knew it was not impossible for GOD.

Abram trusted God despite the impossible consequences
Abram and Sarai were senior citizens (by today’s definitions) when this promise of God was given to Abram. Medically, it is very rare that a woman of Sarai’s conditions could give birth. However, just because this was nearly impossible in the eyes of man, Abram did not let that stir his faith in God. Abram knew that nothing is impossible for God, and if God made a promise, Abram knew that God would deliver. By having this amount of faith, that despite all difficulties, Abram continued to trust God, Abram showed us a great example of great faith.


BOTH PAUL AND JAMES STRESS IT IS FAITH THAT SAVES

Romans 4:1–5 says Abram was not justified by works. By contrast, James 2:17–24 speaks of proving one’s faith by works. Many people thus use this to show that Paul and James do not agree with each other. However, a deeper study will reveal that the two men of God both stress that it is FAITH that saves. The difference between the two perspectives is that Paul focuses on faith from the inside whereas James focuses on faith shown through our actions.

One of the main points that James illustrated in the Book of James was that the way we behave toward people reveals what we really believe about God. Paul focuses on the importance of faith, whereas James focuses on how we live in a way that SHOWS our faith.

Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life
Dr. Chuck Missler said, “Faith is not belief in spite of evidence. Faith is belief in spite of convenience.”

Faith is the confidence that we know God's Word is true, and that acting on His word will bring a blessing. It's more than just believing. There is the critical element of trust.
What kind of faith saves a person? Is it necessary to do good works in order to be saved? How can a person tell if he's exercising true saving faith?

Matthew 7:16-23
Trees are measure by the fruits they bear. To those who have done things in His name, Jesus will not know them! Why not? HEART. Below, James elaborates on this.

Example 1: Dead Faith (James 2:15-18)
We can have faith, but that faith can be dead. We can have faith but be unsaved. For example, we can put our faith in a chair, but that chair isn’t going to save us. Think that’s a ridiculous example? Okay. We can put our faith in idols, but those idols aren’t going to save us. Isaiah nailed that topic pretty well. Our faith is only as good as the object we place it in. So… I’d argue it’s in our best interest to be certain that object is REAL.

We are called to help meet the needs of people. The example given by James here illustrates the cynicism of lip service: They provide no real help but send the needy away telling them to depart in faith and be warm and filled. This example points to those who have the vocabulary but not the commitment. People substitute words for authenticating deeds.

Galatians 6:10
Paul says for us to do good to all, especially unto those who are in the house of faith. Paul's point here is that we have an obligation as Christians. As Christians, we are manifesting, demonstrating, and professing the character of god by our conduct. When we fail to meet our obligations to help, we are casting a cloud on the image of God, who we are supposed to be witnesses of!

Matthew 25:40
This obligation to help applies to ALL, both believers and non-believers. However, it rests more heavily on the believers.

1 John 3:17-19
If we have a brother in need but we remain unresponsive, how can we say God dwells in us? Let us not love in word or tongue but in deeds and truth. Words are cheap!

Luke 10:25-37
Who is our neighbor? Anyone who is in need!

Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and practical results is a false declaration.

James is not drawing a separating between faith and works. He is saying they are inseparable.

John Calvin: It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies is never alone.

If it's real faith, it'll produce works. Faith without authenticating actions is in vain. This is James's true focus!

James 2:18
Actions speak louder than words. James is repudiating the separation of faith and deeds. Mere intellectual assent is not enough. I may believe the airplane may fly, but it's different between actually getting in and flying in it. The first scenario is mere believing, an intellectual exercise. The second scenario is having true faith. We may know the doctrines of salvation, but until we submit ourselves to God, the intellectual exercise is incomplete.

Example 2: Demonic Faith (James 2:19-20)
There are no atheistic demons. THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS.

The point James is making here is that not only do demons KNOW God, they tremble in his presence!

In a way, demons are ahead of many Christians whose belief in God is only an intellectual exercise! They have better theology than some of us! They believe in the presence of God. They believe in the deity of Christ. They witnessed of Christ: Whenever they are in the presence of Christ, they bore witness to His Sonship (Mark 3, Matthew 8, Luke 8)!
Yet, despite all this knowledge, THEY ARE NOT SAVED.
We can be enlightened in the mind and be stirred in the heart but still be lost!

James is making a very harsh but real point here: Demons know God intellectually, and they tremble in the presence of God. Yet, they are still lost. Knowing and trembling therefore is not a confirming experience of our faith! True faith is something more. It can be seen and recognized. It leads to a changed life.

Faith without works is dead. James makes his point three times in this chapter.

"Dead" = useless, doesn't work

Again, James is not drawing the separation of faith and works but is stressing that the two are inseparable.

Example 3: Dynamic Faith (2:21-26)
True saving faith is based on the Word of God, because we received our spiritual birth by it (James 1; Romans 10:17).
Again, faith is only as good as the object we place it in! We can have faith in a chair, but what does that mean?

Dynamic faith requires the intellect, the emotions, and the will. The mind understands the truth, the heart desires the truth, and the will acts upon the truth.

The Bible mentions many different types of works
- Works of the law: Galatians 2:16
- Works of the flesh: Galatians 5:19
- Wicked works: Colossians 1:21
- Dead works: Hebrews 9:14
- Good works

James talks about good works here and illustrates them with two situations.

Situation 1 (James 2:21): The offering of Abraham's son (Genesis 22)
Abraham's faith in God was demonstrated in His obedience to God, in his changed life. In Genesis 22, Abraham is demonstrating his saving faith. Abraham He wasn't saved in Genesis 22; he was saved in Genesis 15:6! (Galatians 3 and Romans 4 both make the same point.)

Genesis 22:15
Abraham expected Isaac to come back with him. Reflect on this monstrous faith Abraham had in God! Abraham knew that God had told him that Isaac would have children. Yet, God also told him to sacrifice God. If Abraham trusted in his human mind and his limited human knowledge, he would have never been able to understand how God could promise him both without causing a great paradox. However, Abraham just left it all to God. He doesn’t know how God is going to do it; he just KNOWS God keeps His promises. If God wants to sacrifice Isaac, then clearly, God will have to bring Isaac back to life to fulfill his destiny as the father of many nations. Abraham is showing us his faith in Isaac's resurrection.

Note also, that Isaac is an adult here. Abraham wasn’t sacrificing a child. Isaac went voluntarily. (The original Hebrew text doesn't just mean they went together. It means they went in agreement).

By faith, Abraham obeyed despite the consequences. Isaac being sacrificed could not have been an easy choice for Abraham. We humans don’t know how to deal with death. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t. Abraham’s amazing faith in God shows us what it means to follow God’s commandment.

What’s impossible for us is not for God. When we run into troubles, we don’t try and depend on ourselves. We turn to God. God has made many promises, and He will keep all of His promises.

Believing despite the evidence is not faith. That is myth!
Genesis 22 is a foreshadowing of the perfect sacrifice
2000 years later, another Father would sacrifice His only Son. God sent Jesus to die for our sins.

Note also the many types we see in these passages. Abraham is a type of father. Isaac, a type of Jesus. Abraham’s servant, who was sent to find Isaac a bride, a type of Holy Spirit.

James 2:22
Trees are examined by the fruit they bear. We are examined by the fruit we bear as well. One of the main fruits we bear is our changed lives! Abraham was saved by faith and faith alone. He was declared righteous in Genesis 15, 15 years before he was circumcised in Genesis 7 and hundreds of years before the Law of Moses.

The Law didn't save Abraham. Circumcision did not save Abraham. Abraham’s faith saved him. And his works reflected his salvation.

Situation 2 (James 2:25): Rahab
James’s second example is Rahab, who is a very contrasting character compared to Abraham.

Joshua 2 & 6
The text suggests Rahab was an immoral person, and yet she was saved. She ultimately became the mother of Boaz who married Ruth. Ruth is one of the few Jewish
women who is named in the genealogy, the genealogy of Jesus Christ! Abraham was a Jew who was righteous.
Rahab was a gentile who was a prostitute. These are two very different people! Compare to Abraham, Rahab was significantly insignificant. Yet, she makes what we colloquially refer to as the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)! James would probably call this the Hall of Works!

Hebrews 11
How do we know these men/women walked by faith? By their works! This passage didn’t just list the names off. The author further elaborated in what they DID by faith! What was Noah's testimony? His making of the ark! Was making the ark the important thing? No. It was the demonstration of his faith!

Luke 12:48
To those who have been given more, more will be expected!

2 Corinthians 13:5
Check our faith and prove ourselves!

Some propose that there are two stages to a Christian life:
1) Jesus is our Savior.
2) Jesus is our Lord.
We may be saved, but do we submit to Jesus?

What would James think about that? Judging by his writing, James would likely say that faith without submission to Jesus Christ is not genuine faith at all.

James is not calling for deeds instead of faith. He is calling for deeds in completion of faith. He is not calling us to do more. He is calling us to do things differently.

Abraham placed his son on the altar, because he loved God more than his son. Isaac laid himself on the altar because he loved God more than himself.

What do we put above God in our lives? We want to place on the altar. God is not number one on our lists of top 10. God is number one on our list of one!


GOD'S PROMISES ARE ALWAYS FULFILLED (Genesis 15:7-21)

Abram is the father of Israelites, fulfilling Genesis 15:4-5.

Genesis 15:13
Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

The Book of Exodus describes the period of time when the Israelites were enslaved and mistreated by Egypt, a country not their own.

Genesis 15:14
But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.
In Exodus 7-13, we see how God led the Israelites out of Egypt through judging Egypt.

Genesis 15:15
You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age.

In Genesis 25:7-8, we see that Abraham died at a good old age and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 15:16
In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”

In Joshua 10, we learn that Joshua, returned to the land and defeated the Amorites.


Genesis 15:16
Romans 2:4-6
Revelation 14:18

God waits until the sin of people have reached its full measure before He judges people. God also waits because He is merciful. He gives people as much time as He possibly could to turn toward Him and repent.

Genesis 15:18
The river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates are the two rivers that mark the boundaries of the Promised Land. 
Israel does not possess all the land between these two boundaries today. In the Millennium, however, Jesus will restore Israel to this Promised Land.