Genesis 15:1-21: Summary: God knows when a faithful man has his doubts. He attends a faintly burning wick. The fainting doubts have to do with the promises of God and present circumstances. Waiting is hard, but patience is holy. In that gulf, God reveals His sufficiency for Abram, which Abram questions. God answers Abram that the promise doesn't have an expiration date because it depends on God's ability to raise the dead. Abram will have a son and, from him, children innumerable. The Word is enough. Faith rebounds. Abram believes God. God counts such faith as righteousness. Abram is justified by grace through faith. But there's still the issue of the land. Where will children innumerable find space enough to rest in God? Abram seeks assurance, and God assures him. Animals are sacrificed. A covenant is cut. Abram is put to sleep. On pains of death, God absorbs all the consequences of any breach in the covenant. By blood that will speak a better word, God promises the next phase in redemptive history: an exodus whereby a judgment upon enemies will yield the salvation of all who take cover under the blood. These will possess Canaan. God's promised it to Abram and to his Offspring, Christ. In all of it, God means to encourage us that, from justification to final rest and everywhere in between, grace guarantees glory.

Main idea(s): God is our shield against every fear that He will not finish what He started.

Sermon Outline:

Know for certain: God will vindicate faith. (15:1-3)

Know for certain: God has justified the believer. (15:4-6)

Know for certain: God will give the believer Rest. (15:7-21)