The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

Would you like to learn more about faith? You've come to the right person. No, not me, Abraham. This is a daily devotional podcast supporting a teaching series for the Watford church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ called "Adventures in faith with Abraham". It is also part of my quiet time coaching series.

What is it about Abraham which is so admirable? Many things. But perhaps above all else his adventurous faith, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)

Join me as we step out on a faith adventure with Abraham.

Today we pause for a moment before going onto the next chapter

In chapter 15 Abram is significant, but God is the focus. He is the one taking initiative, giving a vision, answering questions, dealing with doubts, giving instructions, causing Abraham to fall into a deep sleep, making the covenant and walking between the carcasses.

God is the shield, the reward, the one to bless Abraham and his descendants.

What of Abram? Commentators have pointed out that he fulfils three functions which are very significant in the history of Israel. He is priest, prophet and king.

The Word Biblical Commentary puts it like this:

"In these scenes Abram is portrayed not merely as the archetypal Israelite who has faith in God, but as a conquering king who has been promised victory over his foes and a great territory. As often noted, there are many resemblances in the form and content between the covenant with Abram and that with David (2 Samuel 7). However, the paradigmatic character of the father of the nation is also seen in the way he is viewed as a prophet enjoying a vision (v 1) of God and insight into the future (vv 13–16). Finally Abram appears as a sort of priest: the description of the bird-rite suggests it, and the mention of his sacrifices and altar-building points in the same direction. Within the OT these same features reappear in the figure of Moses, and the NT sees our Lord as prophet, priest, and king. In exercising faith, the people of the new covenant both imitate Christ and also walk in the footsteps of our forefather Abram."

Christians today have similar identities and functions.

“[He] has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:6 NIV11)

Who are we?

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” (1 Peter 2:9–10 NAS95)

We are a priesthood serving our heavenly father. We are royal because we are related to the king by blood. We are profits in that we are declaring and proclaiming the will of God to the world.

How is it possible that we - weak, sinful, flesh-bound - are able to inhabit such an identity and exhibit such activities? It is because we have "received mercy".

Ask God to fill you with gratitude for his mercy, and ask him to help you to fulfil your functions as priest, prophet and royalty

If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: [email protected].

The apostle Paul said of Abraham, “He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11) Let's allow him to be the father of Faith to you and me in January and February 2021.

Many thanks for listening today. See you tomorrow as we continue our adventure of faith with Abraham.

Take care and God bless, Malcolm

Would you like to learn more about faith? You've come to the right person. No, not me, Abraham. This is a daily devotional podcast supporting a teaching series for the Watford church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ called "Adventures in faith with Abraham". It is also part of my quiet time coaching series.

What is it about Abraham which is so admirable? Many things. But perhaps above all else his adventurous faith, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)

Join me as we step out on a faith adventure with Abraham.

Today we move further into chapter 15

“It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”” (Genesis 15:17–21 NAS95)

What are we seeing here? God cursing himself. I had better explain that!

The smoking oven and flaming torch remind us of the pillar of fire which accompanied Israel in the desert. Here the presence of God is moving between the slaughtered animals. The events recorded are taking elements from common covenant rituals of the time.

When a covenant was made it was said to be "cut". The blood of an animal or animals was shed by cutting them. People making the covenant committed themselves to keeping the agreement at the expense of shedding their own blood. Sometimes as the covenant was spoken the person speaking held a knife to the throat symbolically saying to the other person, "If I break this covenant you have the right to cut to my throat."

We will see a further development of covenant in chapter 17. In that situation Abraham has something to do (circumcision). Here, he simply arranges the materials, and God is the actor. He is the one moving between the animal carcasses and, in a sense, calling a curse upon himself if he does not carry out his promises to Abraham.

What does this remind us of? Surely Jesus on the cross. One who allowed himself to be cursed so that we could be blessed.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE” —” (Galatians 3:13 NAS95)

Ask God to fill you with gratitude at the cost he was prepared to pay so that we could be set free.

If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: [email protected].

The apostle Paul said of Abraham, “He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11) Let's allow him to be the father of Faith to you and me in January and February 2021.

Many thanks for listening today. See you tomorrow as we continue our adventure of faith with Abraham.

Take care and God bless, Malcolm

• Reconnection with God after Egypt

• God shows his approval of how Abram handled Lot's complaint, his need to be rescued and the demands of the king of Sodom.

• Abram is a warrior for Lot, but God is a warrior for Abram.

• Abram successful in business, but success with God is a greater reward

• Typical way to solve inheritance when no heir

• God does not rebuke Abram for his question - nor the later one (v8)

• The 'believed' does not indicate flawless faith, but a trajectory of faith, an habitual faith

• This land, specifically

• Not, "will you", but "how"?

• Leviticus - sacrifice

• 3 years - 3 generations in Egypt

• Like Adam (Gen 2:21; sleep) and Sinai (Deut 4:11; fear)

• 400 years - four generations

• Theophany - like Exodus (Ex 14:19-20; pillar of fire), and Sinai (Deut 5:23; fire on the mountain)

• God is present and personal

• First mention of covenant in connection with Abram

• What do we learn about the heart of God?

• Willing to pay any price to reassure us

• He accommodates us

• What do we learn about the heart of Abram?

• Trust builds as life goes on

• Enter the mystery willingly

1. God has a bigger vision that we can possibly conceive - and all connected to his desire for us to know him, enjoy him, by healed and live in his love

Would you like to learn more about faith? You've come to the right person. No, not me, Abraham. This is a daily devotional podcast supporting a teaching series for the Watford church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ called "Adventures in faith with Abraham". It is also part of my quiet time coaching series.

What is it about Abraham which is so admirable? Many things. But perhaps above all else his adventurous faith, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)

Join me as we step out on a faith adventure with Abraham.

Today we move further into chapter 15

“Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. “Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”” (Genesis 15:12–16 NAS95)

What are we seeing here? God graciously giving Abram what he needs.

The Word Biblical Commentary put it like this,

"“The deep sleep,” “fear” and “darkness” all suggest awe-inspiring divine activity (cf. Gen 2:21; Isa 29:10; Exod 10:21, 22; 14:20; 15:16; 23:27; Deut 4:11; Josh 2:9) and are closely associated with the exodus and conquest, appropriately introducing the prophecy in the next verses"

Perhaps Abram falling asleep prefigures his death. Then, after his death, the Lord will walk amongst his descendants (Israel) taking them from slavery to the promised land. God is enacting a promise to Abraham to assure him that he will take care of his descendants and fulfil his promises to Abraham and them.

Abram will not experience all the events God reveals to him. Some of those situations will be very unpleasant. Not all the information might be welcome. Yet, although the journey will be bumpy, the end will be glorious and filled with peace.

How do we find peace? By trusting in God's shalom. Verse 15 is the first appearance of this word in scripture. How significant that it is connected with Abram.

The peace offered by God it's not one we can conjure up for ourselves. Nor is it dependent on our circumstances. Remember, Abraham saw almost none of the promises come to fruition in his lifetime. Yet, he was able to die in peace because he knew his God was trustworthy.

The reason we can live a life of peace is because we know our God is trustworthy.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV11)

Ask God to help you trust him without reservation and grant you his peace

If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: [email protected].

The apostle Paul said of Abraham, “He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11) Let's allow him to be the father of Faith to you and me in January and February 2021.

Many thanks for listening today. See you tomorrow as we continue our adventure of faith with Abraham.

Take care and God bless, Malcolm

• Abraham had 'bouncebackability'

• An adventure not possible without setbacks

• Gen 12 - calling / betrayal

• As a result he goes back to worship (Gen 13:1-4)

• Surrenders control

• Gen 16 - Hagar

• Takes matters in own hands

• Gen 16:16-17:1, 24, 18:10

• Gen 18-19 - 'failure' to rescue Sodom

• Despite the most amazing QT imaginable!

• Gen 20 - Abimelech (esp as a repeat of a previous mistake)

• Giving in to fear

• Abe prays - goes to God for help with the consequences of his own sin, Gen 20:17-18

• Miracle of grace occurs

• Gen 22 - the high point comes when he is ready

• Abraham’s greatest test is passed with flying colours

• But they did not 'die' in shalom, but exile

• Not by being mistake-free!

• Overeating

1. Go back to old places, Gen 13