Abram's Vision
When God Makes a Promise, He Keeps
Written by Royce Purifoy, a.k.a. Uncle Royce, co-host of Two Faithful Brews and the Good News.
Genesis 15: [1-21]
Genesis 15: [1-21]: offers us a dynamic relationship between Abram and God, which is noted in some detail through this chapter!
Faced with the reality of no heir, we find Abram reminding God of his need and asking for a blessing; Receiving God’s promise that he would indeed be assured an heir, Abram then asked how he could know of a surety that the promise could be kept, and he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness!
The next question was then asked:
“Lord how will I know that I shall inherit it?”
The response from God was:
“prepare me an offering”
of which Abram did.
As Abram obeyed and drove away the birds from the offering, he fell asleep and, in a vision, God gave his promise and made a covenant with ‘himself’; in which he gave the future promise of his ordained plan and promise for his nation [Israel] and the 400 years of captivity to the 4th. Generation.
The final promise of his covenant being with himself; in becoming one with his own creation of mankind!
Abram Becomes Abraham
Abram was later given the changed name of ‘Abraham,’ and is without a doubt, characterized now as a man of ‘Faith,’ for when he was tried, he offered up Isaac, trusting in the promise and covenant of ‘God,’ offering up his only begotten son.
A Question for Our Generation
There are many people in our lives today who have little to no regard for the lives we live and even less thought of what will happen when our generation has passed, and our children become the generation of the present.
Question: Do we know or even care about the social and cultural condition we are leaving for our heritage?
Looking Forward to the Dispensation of Grace
In looking forward to the dispensation of Grace, Matthew gives us the fulfillment of the incarnation of ‘God’ in the 2nd Chapter, while the Gospel of Mark begins the day-by-day reality of what was to be the ‘Gospel’ that ‘Jesus’ accomplished in perfection.
The 3rd. book of the Gospels sees Luke documenting a truth that only ‘Jesus’[God] could complete.
The final book of John depicts ‘Jesus’ as the ultimate promise that was promised to Abram in Genesis and culminates on the ‘Cross,’ documenting a stark and deadly reality that only the ‘Son of God’ was able to accomplish.
Today we are offered a way back to Christ through our Lord and Saviour!
Reflect This Week
Take a few moments this week and ask yourself:
Am I trusting God only when I can see the outcome?
What promise of God do I need to stand on again?
What kind of spiritual inheritance am I leaving for the next generation?
Have I truly come back to God through Jesus Christ, or have I only been standing near religious things?
Genesis 15 reminds us that God keeps covenant. Abraham reminds us that faith obeys. The Cross reminds us that Jesus made the way.
Pull up a chair, open the Word, and let the Lord search your heart.
For more conversations like this, listen to Two Faithful Brews and the Good News and visit paulpurifoy.com for books, blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you stand firm in Jesus Christ.
Until next time, stay faithful, keep your Bible open, and remember this:
When God makes a promise, He keeps it.