BIBLE STUDY MANUALS: GENESIS CHAPTER 15

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Genesis. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

I) [Gen 15:1-3]:

A) BY THE GRACE OF THE LORD, ABRAM HAD:

WON THE BATTLE AGAINST CHEDALAOMER AND HIS ALLIES,

RESCUED HIS NEPHEW LOT FROM CAPTIVITY,

RECEIVED THE BLESSING AND REVELATION OF KING / PRIEST MELCHIZADEK AN INCARNATE APPEARANCE OF THE LORD,

GIVEN A TENTH OF ALL HE HAD TO MELCHIZADEK AND

TAKEN AN OATH TO THE LORD TO REFUSE ANY SPOILS OF WAR FROM THE KING OF SODOM;

WHEREUPON THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ABRAM IN A VISION SAYING, 'DO NOT FEAR, ABRAM, I AM A SHIELD TO YOU MAKING VERY GREAT YOUR REWARD'

B) IN SPITE OF THE LORD'S PERSISTENT ASSURANCE, SUPERNATURAL ENABLEMENT AND PROTECTION, ABRAM CONTINUED TO LACK FAITH IN THE PROMISES OF THE LORD

II) Gen 15:4-9]:

A) THE LORD TOLD ABRAM THAT ELIEZER WOULD NOT BECOME ABRAM'S HEIR, THAT A PHYSICAL DESCENDANT WOULD BE THE HEIR THAT THE LORD PROMISED ABRAM. AND THE LORD TOLD ABRAM THAT JUST AS THE NIGHT SKY HAD COUNTLESS NUMBER OF STARS SO WOULD BE ABRAM'S PHYSICAL DESCENDANTS. THIS IMPLIED THAT ABRAM WOULD HAVE AN EVERLASTING LIFE WITH THE LORD, IMPLYING THAT ABRAM WOULD HAVE ACCOUNTED TO HIMSELF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN ORDER TO BE GIVEN THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE - AND THIS THE LORD PROMISED WOULD COME THROUGH ABRAM'S SEED (SINGULAR)

B) THE LORD HAD ALREADY PROMISED TO MAKE ABRAM A GREAT NAME & A GREAT NATION, WITH MANY NATIONS, I.E., INNUMERABLE DESCENDANTS WHEREIN ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH HIS SEED IMPLYING ONE THROUGH WHOM WOULD BE PROVIDED ETERNAL LIFE

*** EXCERPTS FROM GENESIS CHAPTERS 12 AND 13 ***

[Gen 11:27-12:1]:

(Gen 11:27-12:1) THE LORD GOD REPEATEDLY APPEARED AND SPOKE TO ABRAM FROM THE TIME HE WAS IN UR THROUGH WHEN HE WAS IN HARAN. HE GRACIOUSLY KEPT ON SAYING TO ABRAM TO GO FROM UR, HIS RELATIVES AND HIS FATHER'S HOUSEHOLD TO A LAND THE LORD WILL SHOW HIM IMPLYING PROSPERITY AND OWNERSHIP OF THAT LAND

[Compare Gen 12:6-7]:

[Compare Acts 7:2]:

[Compare Gen 12:5]:

[Compare Gen 15:7]:

[Gen 12:2-3]:

THE LORD PROMISED:

(1) TO MAKE ABRAM A GREAT NATION IN THE PROMISED LAND WHICH IMPLIES MANY DESCENDANTS AND RULERSHIP FOREVER VIA A MESSIAH-SAVIOR, THE SEED OF ABRAM;

(2) TO BLESS ABRAM IN THE PROMISED LAND WHICH IMPLIES TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY AND LONGEVITY UNTO ETERNAL LIFE;

(3) TO MAKE ABRAM'S NAME GREAT IN THE PROMISED LAND, WHICH IMPLIES ENABLING ABRAM TO BE FAITHFUL IN DOING GREAT AND GODLY THINGS AS PART OF GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN'S ETERNAL RECONCILIATION WITH HIM AND RESTORATION OF MANKIND'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE EARTH THROUGH A DESCENDANT OF ABRAM

(4) WHEREBY THE LORD DECLARED THAT IN ABRAM ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH - OF ALL TIME - WOULD BE BLESSED IMPLYING THE TEMPORAL AND THE ETERNAL AS PART OF GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN'S ETERNAL RECONCILIATION WITH HIM AND RESTORATION OF MANKIND'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE EARTH THROUGH A DESCENDANT OF ABRAM

THE LORD WILL MAKE ABRAM A GREAT NATION IN THE PROMISED LAND, WHICH IMPLIES RULERSHIP AND MANY DESCENDANTS FOREVER VIA A MESSIAH-SAVIOR, THE SEED OF ABRAM

THE LORD WILL BLESS ABRAM IN THE PROMISED LAND WHICH IMPLIES TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL PROSPERITY AND LONGEVITY UNTO ETERNAL LIFE

THE LORD WILL MAKE ABRAM'S NAME GREAT IN THE PROMISED LAND, WHICH IMPLIES ENABLING ABRAM TO BE FAITHFUL IN DOING GREAT AND GODLY THINGS AS PART OF GOD'S PLAN FOR MANKIND'S ETERNAL RECONCILIATION WITH HIM AND RESTORATION OF MANKIND'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE EARTH THROUGH A DESCENDANT OF ABRAM

THE LORD DECLARED THAT IN ABRAM ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH - OF ALL TIME - WOULD BE BLESSED IMPLYING THE TEMPORAL AND THE ETERNAL, AS PART OF GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN'S ETERNAL RECONCILIATION WITH HIM AND RESTORATION OF MANKIND'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE EARTH THROUGH A DESCENDANT OF ABRAM

[Compare Gen 12:3]:

[Gen 12:3]:

GOD PROMISES TO BLESS THOSE THAT BLESS ABRAM, CURSE THOSE THAT CURSE HIM AND IN ABRAM ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD WILL BE BLESSED. THE LORD'S PROMISE OF A SEED OF THE WOMAN EVE - A MESSIAH-SAVIOR REPRESENTING ALL OF HUMANITY TO DEFEAT SATAN AND HIS SEED RESULTING IN THE AVAILABILITY OF ETERNAL RECONCILIATION OF MAN WITH GOD AND THE RESTORATION OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF HUMANITY OVER THE EARTH WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE LORD THROUGH ABRAM BECOMING A GREAT NATION AND A GREAT NAME AND IN ABRAM WILL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD BE SO BLESSED

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 12 ******

**** COMPARE WITH EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 13 ****

[Gen 13:14-16]:

ABRAM SEPARATED FROM LOT FULFILLING THE LORD'S COMMAND TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM HIS RELATIVES. THE LORD THEN REITERATED HIS PROMISE TO ABRAM AND HIS SEED, AN INDIVIDUAL PHYSICAL DESCENDANT, TO POSSESS THE PROMISED LAND FOREVER IMPLYING JUSTIFICATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH THIS INDIVIDUAL 'SEED'. THEN HE COMMANDED ABRAM TO WALK AND VIEW THE LAND HE WILL POSSESS. ABRAM THEN BUILT ANOTHER ALTAR TO THE LORD IN HEBRON BY THE GREAT TREES OF MAMRE

****** END OF EXCERPTS FROM GENESIS CHAPTERS 12 & 13 ******

II cont.) Gen 15:4-9 cont.]:

C) GENESIS CHAPTER 3 DECLARES GOD'S PLAN FOR THE ETERNAL RECONCILIATION OF MAN TO GOD AND THE RESTORATION OF MANKIND'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE EARTH THROUGH AN INDIVIDUAL DESCENDANT OF EVE WHICH CHAPTER 12 IMPLIES WILL BE FULFILLED THROUGH THE LORD'S MAKING ABRAM A GREAT NATION AND A GREAT NAME AND IN ABRAM THROUGH HIS SEED WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ETERNAL LIFE AND BLESSING FOR ALL MANKIND THROUGHOUT THE AGES AND ETERNITY

*** EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 3 ***

[Gen 3:14-15]:

TWO SPIRITUAL (NOT BIOLOGICAL) SEEDS ARE IN VIEW:

1):

THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO FOLLOW SATAN [WHO INDWELT THE SERPENT ] IN SPIRITUAL REBELLION ARE DECLARED SEED OF SATAN - ANGELS AND HUMANS ALIKE. THEY ARE FURTHER DECLARED BY GOD TO BE AT ENMITY WITH THE WOMAN, EVE, AND HER SEED:

2):

A SEED, WHICH BIOLOGICALLY COMES FROM THE MALE, IN ORDER TO BE THE SEED OF THE WOMAN, HAD TO BE PRODUCED INTO A FEMALE PHYSICAL DESCENDANT OF THE WOMAN SUPERNATURALLY AND SPIRITUALLY BY GOD TO RESULT IN AN INDIVIDUAL MALE DESCENDANT TO REPRESENT THE HUMAN RACE - A MESSIAH-SAVIOR - IN THE BATTLE WITH SATAN AND HIS SEED TO PROVIDE ETERNAL RECONCILIATION FOR HUMANITY WITH GOD AND REGAIN SOVEREIGNTY OF THE HUMAN RACE OVER THE WORLD

THE SEED OF THE WOMAN PORTRAYS AN INDIVIDUAL OF SUPERNATURAL BIRTH VIA A SPIRITUALLY PROVIDED SEED WHO WILL REPRESENT ALL OF HUMANITY IN BATTLE WITH SATAN AND HIS SEED TO REGAIN THE LOST SOVEREIGNTY OF THE HUMAN RACE OVER THE WORLD AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEING TO BE ETERNALLY RECONCILED WITH GOD RELATIVE TO SIN. THIS MESSIAH-SAVIOR WILL BRUISE SATAN'S HEAD = DELIVER A MORTAL BLOW TO DESTROY HIM, AND SATAN WILL BRUISE HIS HEEL - A NON-MORTAL BLOW

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM GENESIS CHAPTER 3 ******

D) ABRAM BEGAN BELIEVING, IN THE TIME FRAME OF GENESIS 15:4-6, IN GOD'S PROMISE OF INNUMERABLE DESCENDANTS THROUGH HIS SEED SUPERNATURALLY PROVIDED BY GOD AND RELATIVE TO THE LORD'S PROMISE OF INHERITING THE LAND AT WHICH TIME GOD ACCOUNTED IT TO ABRAM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE AND CONFIRMED HIS ENTIRE COVENANT WITH ABRAM UNILATERALLY

E) HAVING BELIEVED IN THE LORD UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ETERNAL LIFE, ABRAM WAS STILL NOT EVIDENCING TOTAL TRUST IN THE LORD. HE ASKED THE LORD HOW HE COULD KNOW = BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD ACTUALLY POSSESS THE LAND WHICH IS CONNECTED WITH THE LORD'S PROMISE OF INNUMERABLE DESCENDANTS AND ETERNAL LIFE

1) [Compare Jer 34:18-20]:

III) [Gen 15:10-21]:

A) (Gen 15:9-11) ABRAM IN REALITY - NOT IN A VISION OR DREAM - GATHERED, PREPARED FOR SACRIFICIAL COVENANT RITUAL AND DROVE BIRDS OF PREY AWAY FROM ANIMALS SELECTED BY THE LORD FOR THAT PURPOSE

B) (Gen 15:9-12) AN ACTUAL CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT, (NOT A FIGURATIVE ONE), PORTRAYS ABRAM PREPARING ANIMALS FOR SACRIFICIAL COVENANT RITUAL, DRIVING AWAY BIRDS OF PREY FROM THE CARCASSES, AND WHILE FALLING ASLEEP WHILE THE SUN WAS STILL GOING DOWN, HAVING A DREADFUL FEAR ACCOMPANIED BY AN INTERNAL GREAT DARKNESS FALL UPON HIS MIND SERVING THE PURPOSE OF THE LORD TO GET ABRAM TO GROW IN HIS FAITH

C) (Gen 15:13) THE LORD TOLD ABRAM THAT HIS DESCENDANTS WILL BE STRANGERS IN A LAND THAT IS NOT THEIRS, AND WILL SERVE AND BE AFFLICTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS

1) The Time From Abraham's Call By The LORD To Leave His Country For The Promised Land Until Abraham's Descendants' Sojourn into Egypt From Canaan Was 215 Years. This Period Was Part Of The 430 Years Of Abram's Descendants' Sojourn In Canaan And Egypt Referred To In Exodus 12:40-41 - Most Accurately Accounted For In The Septuagint & Samaritan Pentateuch Versions. Furthermore, 400 of the 430 Years Were The Years Of Affliction Of Abraham's Descendants Beginning In Canaan At Ishmael's Scoffing At Isaac And Ishmael's Consequent Banishment From Abram's Family. The Period Of 400 Years Ended With Moses And The Exodus Of Israel From Egypt Followed Closely By God's Giving Of The Law To Moses And Israel