March 03, 2024 | Dave McGinley
Passage: Genesis 15:1-18
COMFORT
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2“And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. Genesis 13:5-6
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1
When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. Genesis 14:14
CONTROL
Genesis 21 Isaac, Genesis 16 Hagar
COMFORT and CONTROL are inadequate shields in this broken world.
COVENANT
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. Genesis 15:1
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Romans 4:2-3
Trusting God’s covenant is an adequate shield for a broken world.
But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” Genesis 15:8
A Covenant is like a written contract.
When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. Genesis 15:17-18a
We are a people who look back in order to move forward.