## Patriarchs 3 - The Smoking Pot and The Egyptian Mistress - Genesis 15-16

We rejoin Abram just after he has denied the reward offered to him by the king of Sodom to instead trust in the reward promised to him by God. Not surprisingly, as the Lord comes to Abram in a vision he checks in with God about these promises. 'O, Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless…' Twice at this point the Lord has confirmed his promise that Abram will be given offspring and, through his offspring, the nations will be blessed. Still, the Lord will confirm these promises to Abram once again.

## Read Genesis 15:1-20

At first read, this chapter may seem a little weird. God asks Abram to grab a collection of sacrificial animals and split them down the middle. This was a common practice during the time period used to finalize covenant agreements (contracts, vassal treaties, promises, etc.) Both parties would walk through the animals symbolizing that if they were to break the contract, they would find a similar fate…death!

- • do you think God puts Abram to sleep? How does that change the contract? • do you think God puts Abram to sleep? How does that change the contract?

There is consistent theme in the chapter that stands out. When Abram is put t o sleep, it says that a 'dreadful and great darkness' fell upon him. Then later in verse 17, we're reminded that God waits until the sun had gone down and it was 'dark.'

- • do you think God would wait until Abram was in darkness and the sun had gone down to do his • do you think God would wait until Abram was in darkness and the sun had gone down to do his work?
- • back at Genesis 13:16 and compare that with Genesis 15:5, what is different about the way God • back at Genesis 13:16 and compare that with Genesis 15:5, what is different about the way God states this same promise? What could God be trying to communicate through this different wording?

The first promise God relates Abram's offspring with the dust on the ground, something that is very earthly/touchable and visible during the day. The second time around, God compares Abram's offspring to the stars in the sky, something untouchable by human hands and only visible in the dark of night. Could God have been telling Abram that no matter the time of day, you will have something in front of you that will remind you of these promises? Could God have been telling Abram that even through the natural darkness of this world, God reigns and is all powerful?

- • does it make you feel that in your 's or the world's darkest moments, God is at work? • does it make you feel that in your 's or the world's darkest moments, God is at work?

God ends up making a one-sided covenant with Abram knowing full well that, as a human, Abram would never be able to hold up his end of the bargain. Only God will answer for this covenant, promise, contract not being upheld which is exactly what happens when Jesus takes upon himself the sins of all mankind, sentencing himself to death, fulfilling this covenant. Fortunately, Jesus' death on the cross was not the end. In that very dark moment, God was still at work, a work that is finished with the resurrection of Jesus communicating to the world that no amount of human darkness can overcome the power of God's love. Every day when we encounter darkness in the world or in our own hearts, we can find comfort in this. Wecan take comfort in the words in John 1:5 , 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.'

Why is this promise and ceremony offered to Abram? Look at Genesis 15:6, 'And [Abram] believed the Lord, and [the Lord] co unted it to [Abram] as righteousness.'