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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 78

"The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty." Psalm 29:4

Text: Genesis 15:1-21

A VISION OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF ABRAM’S DESCENDANTS

As God gave a glimpse of the future of the descendants of Abram, he must have shuddered involuntarily. God’s means of communication was probably through “a dream” since Abram fell into a deep sleep. In his sleep-state, God probably showed him how the Hebrews would suffer for a while before they were brought back to the Promised Land. Abram’s response to the vision was aptly recorded.

“…behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.”

GENESIS 15:12b


ENCOURAGEMENT TO TRUST GOD’S WORD OF PROMISE

God knew that Abram could do with a bit of encouragement. To see suffering, albeit in a vision of the future, can cause the heart to be troubled deeply. To counter this problem, God once again spoke to Abram, but this time with a special sign. Let us ponder the significance of this special means of communication.

“And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark,
that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch
that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord
made a covenant with Abram, saying,
‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river
of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates –
the Kenites, the Kennezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites,
the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites,
the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

GENESIS 15:17-21

1. Significance of the Special Sign

The most significant thing was that this was no dream! God’s Presence was well represented by the oven and torch that passed between the sundered animal sacrifices! This was God’s special way of saying that He approved of the worship that Abram had offered.

2. Significance Sealed by the Establishment of a Covenant

The significance was sealed forever, in the form of a Covenant! Just as God gave to Noah a covenant that was everlasting, so God gave to Abram a special covenant!

3. Confirmation of the promise of inheritance of the Land of Canaan

a) Demarcation of Boundaries of the Promised Land

The demarcation of the land was a special way of confirming the actual land that God promised that He would give to Abram and his descendants.

b) The Mention of the Inhabitants of the Land

There were already people in the land. God had already hinted that when the sins of the inhabitants were full, He would take back His land and give it to Abram’s descendants! He who is Possessor of heaven and earth has the right to make this decision.