Affirmation (v. 7). God had told Abraham that He would give the land of Canaan to him and his descendants (12:7; 13:15, 17), and now He reaffirmed that promise. The land is an important part of the covenant for it is in the land of Israel that the divine drama of “salvation history’’ was enacted. The land of Israel will also be the stage for the final act of that drama when the Messiah returns to reign on earth.
For centuries, Israel was a nation without a land, and it seemed that the covenant promises would not be fulfilled. In 1932, British expositor G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “I am now quite convinced that the teaching of Scripture as a whole is that there is no future for Israel as an earthly people at all’’ (This Was His Faith, 290). Then came May 14, 1948, and the rebirth of national Israel! Just as God kept His promise to Abraham and sent the Messiah, so He will keep His promise and restore the land to His people.
Assurance (vv. 8–12). Abraham’s question was not a sign of unbelief but a request for a token of assurance. He was confident that God would give him the promised son, but the land was in the hands of ten pagan nations (vv. 19–21). It was one thing for Abraham to own the land, but how would his descendants possess it so they could enjoy it?
What is described in verses 9–17 was known in that day as “cutting a covenant.’’ This solemn ritual involved the death of animals and the binding of people to a promise. The persons making the covenant would sacrifice several animals and divide the bodies, placing the halves opposite each other on the ground. Then the parties would walk between the pieces of the sacrifices in declaration that, if they failed to keep their word, they deserved the same fate as the animals. (See Jer. 34:18–19.)
But Abraham’s experience was different. He killed the animals, laid them on the ground, and spent the rest of the day fighting off the birds of prey that were attracted to the flesh and blood. When the sun went down, Abraham fell into a deep sleep, and then God appeared to him and spoke to him. But God alone passed between the parts of the sacrifices (Gen. 15:17)! It was God who made promises to Abraham, not Abraham who made promises to God. There were no conditions attached; the covenant of grace came from the generous heart of God.
Anticipation (vv. 13–21). Out of the “horror of great darkness,’’ Abraham heard the terms of God’s covenant and discovered God’s plan for the nation (vv. 13–14, 16–17), himself (v. 15), and the land (v. 18–21).
The nation (vv. 13–14, 16–17). Jacob and his family went to Egypt to be protected by Joseph, and there they grew into a mighty people (Gen. 46—Ex. 1). Arriving in Egypt as honored guests, the Jews eventually became a threat; so Pharaoh made them slaves and afflicted them greatly (Ex. 1:11–12). Perhaps the smoking furnace (Gen. 15:17) was a symbol of the nation’s suffering in Egypt (Deut. 4:20). Pharaoh’s cruelty could not exterminate the nation because God had plans for His chosen people. God judged Egypt with ten plagues and then enabled Moses to lead the people out triumphantly (Ex. 5—15).
The events and their timing were in the hands of God. The 400 years of Genesis 15: refers to Israel’s entire stay in Egypt, from Jacob’s arrival to the Exodus. It is a round figure, because Exodus 12: puts it at 430 years. (See also Acts 7:6.) Why did God wait so long to deliver His people? Because God was longsuffering with the nations in Canaan and delayed their judgment so they might have more time to repent (2 Peter 3:8–9; Matt. 23:32). Those who condemn Israel (and God) for the way the Canaanites were treated seem to forget that God gave them centuries to repent of their wickedness.
Abraham (v. 5). Abraham’s “good old age’’ was 175 years (Gen. 25:7), which means he walked with God for a century (12:4). In spite of Abraham’s occasional failures, he accomplished the will of God and brought blessing to the whole world. This promise from God must have given Abraham and Sarah great encouragement during times of difficulty, just as promises like Philippians 1: and Ephesians 2: encourage God’s people today.
The land (vv. 8–21). At the beginning of Abraham’s pilgrimage, God said to him, “I will show thee’’ the land (12:1). Later He said, “I will give it unto thee’’ (13:15–17). But now His word is, “To your descendants I have given this land’’ (15: nasb). God’s covenant made it a settled matter: The land belongs to Abraham’s descendants through Isaac.
Solomon exercised dominion over a vast area (1 Kings 4:21; Ps. 72:8), but Israel did not possess all that land. The kings merely acknowledged Solomon’s sovereignty and paid tribute to him. When Jesus Christ reigns from the throne of David (Matt. 19:28; Luke 1:32), the land of Israel will reach the full dimensions promised by God.
God’s covenant with Abraham stands no matter what Israel believes. The covenant is unconditional; its fulfillment does not depend on man’s faith or faithfulness. In like manner, the new covenant established by Jesus Christ is dependable whether people accept it or not. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ enter into that covenant and receive eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9; 9:12), an eternal inheritance (9:15), and eternal glory (1 Peter 5:10).
When Abraham was concerned about himself, God assured him by saying, “I AM!’’ When he was concerned about his heir, he heard God say, “I will!’’ His concern about the land was met by God’s, “I have given!’’
In Jesus Christ, God gives those same assurances to His people today.
Abraham believed God.
Do you believe?
[For a more detailed study of Galatians 3, see Be Free. Romans 4 is explained in Be Right. The subject of faith and works in James 2 is dealt with in Be Mature. These titles are published by Cook Communications.]