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In this episode of A Good Cup of Coffee, Noah Wagner and Seth Pippin continue walking through the church’s Bible reading plan, Replicate Ministries’ Two-60, and lead listeners into a deep dive of Genesis 15. Along the way, they draw important context from Job 38–42 and Genesis 11, highlighting God’s sovereignty, the nature of faith, and the weight of God’s covenant promises.

The discussion centers on God’s unilateral covenant with Abram—why God opens with “fear not,” how faith is credited as righteousness, and how the ancient covenant ceremony ultimately points forward to the New Covenant in Christ. A brief coffee segment and sponsor highlight round out the episode.

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Reading Plan and Context

This week’s readings:

    •    Job 38–42

    •    Genesis 11

    •    Genesis 15–17

Note on Job:

    •    Though placed later in Scripture, Job’s events occur early in biblical history—within the Genesis timeframe

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Job 38–42 — God’s Sovereignty and Human Humility

God Speaks (38–39):

    •    God answers Job with a sweeping creation discourse

    •    “Were you there…?” questions emphasize God’s wisdom and power

    •    Examples include the earth’s foundations, the seas, and even animals like the ostrich

God’s Power Displayed (40–41):

    •    Job is humbled

    •    Behemoth and Leviathan demonstrate God’s unmatched authority over creation

Restoration (42):

    •    Job repents without accusing God of wrongdoing

    •    God rebukes Job’s friends for misrepresenting Him

    •    Job is restored and blessed abundantly

Key emphasis:

    •    Job wrestles honestly but does not sin against God

    •    True community should point suffering people back to God’s sovereignty, not shallow explanations

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Genesis 11 — Tower of Babel (Brief Context)

    •    More than a children’s story

    •    Reveals human pride, rebellion, and sin’s nature

    •    God’s response restrains humanity’s self-exaltation

    •    Encouragement to reread the passage carefully for overlooked details

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Genesis 15:1–6 — Promise, Fear, and Faith

Context (Genesis 14):

    •    Abram refuses the king of Sodom’s riches so God alone receives glory

    •    God initiates the encounter: “The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision”

“Fear not, Abram”:

    •    Possibly addressing the awe of God’s presence

    •    Possibly calming Abram’s unspoken fears

    •    God knows our needs before we voice them

The Heir Question:

    •    Abram’s concern: he has no child

    •    Eleazar of Damascus will not be the heir

    •    God promises Abram a biological son

Stars Promise:

    •    Abram is brought outside and told to count the stars

    •    Emphasis is not literal math but God’s immeasurable fulfillment

Faith and Righteousness:

    •    “He believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness”

    •    Righteousness is credited by trusting God’s promise, not by works

    •    A foundational truth that points forward to the gospel

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Genesis 15:7–21 — Covenant Ceremony and God’s Unilateral Promise

Request for Assurance (v. 8):

    •    Abram asks, “How am I to know…?”

    •    Not doubt, but a desire for reassurance that God graciously provides

Ancient Covenant Ritual (vv. 9–11):

    •    Animals are split and arranged

    •    Traditionally, both parties would walk between the pieces

    •    Symbolized a self-curse if the covenant was broken

Prophetic Revelation (vv. 12–16):

    •    Abram falls into a deep, God-caused sleep

    •    God foretells Israel’s future:

    •    Enslavement for 400 years

    •    Deliverance with great possessions

    •    Abram’s peaceful death

    •    Judgment delayed until the Amorites’ sin is complete

God Alone Walks the Path (vv. 17–21):

    •    A smoking fire pot and flaming torch pass between the pieces

    •    Abram does not walk through — God binds Himself alone

    •    The land promise is clearly defined and named

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Theological Insights and Application

    •    God initiates grace: He approaches first and calms fear

    •    Faith is not blind: God welcomes honest questions and gives assurance

    •    Unilateral covenant: Abram contributes nothing — God shoulders the promise

    •    Human failure vs. God’s faithfulness: Israel fails; we fail — God does not

    •    New Covenant fulfillment: What Abram could not keep, Christ fulfills perfectly

Study encouragement:

    •    Context matters

    •    Ancient practices clarify meaning

    •    A good study Bible can be immensely helpful

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Next Steps

    •    This week’s focus: Job 38–42; Genesis 11; Genesis 15–17

    •    Look for God’s sovereignty, promises, and faithfulness

    •    Next episode: Genesis 18; 19–26

    •    Ask honest questions of God and trust His character

    •    Share the episode with someone learning to study Scripture deeply

    •    Visit Fresh Grounds Coffee if you’re local