Genesis - Worksheet Chapter 15

Genesis Chapter 15

Abram with his army of 318 men had just thrashed a band of warring kings and rescued his nephew Lot.  So much was unknown and hostile in the land that he did not know.  He had left all his securities for this.  In the long dark night that followed, he quite possibly felt fear of the unknown.  What would he face next?  Would his enemies return and continue the battle?  Sarai was still barren so what did God mean about having descendants from his own body?

In this time of need, a voice is heard in the stillness of the night:

"Fear not, Abram:  I am thy shield."

He was in the presence of Almighty God !

1. What fear paralyzes you most often? 

Write out your thoughts:

Our fears will turn to faith as Abram's did when we come into the presence of the Lord.

2.  How do we enter into the presence of the Lord today?

• Hebrews 10:19-23 -
• Hebrews 4:16 -

3.  What promise do we have that our fears can turn to faith when we pray?

• Philippians 4:6-7 -

4.  God told Abram that He was his shield (protection) and that his reward would be very great. 

Abram remembers when God made him this promise when the journey first began.

 Let's remember with him:

• Genesis 12:1-3 -

5.  Abram remembers that he will be made into a great nation, but he wonders how.

He says to the Lord on this occasion, "SinceYou have not given me an offspring, one born in my house is my heir".

• What did God make clear to Abram about this? vs. 4 -

6. How did God show Abram what his descendants would be like? vs. 5 -

7. At this point, Abram believed in the Lord. 

• What did the Lord count that as for Abram's sake? vs. 6

This is the reference to Abram's point of salvation - when He believed "in the Lord Jesus".

How do we know that?

• Galatians 3:16 -
• Galatians 3:29 -
• Romans 4:2-13 -

Abram will truly see and believe when the lamb will be provided in the place of his son Issac later in his life.

What does Jesus tell the religious leaders about father Abraham?

• John 8:56 -58 -

8.  Why does Abraham's 'faith' relate to us? 

• Romans 4:22-25 -

Not only would Abram have a seed, a descendant from his own body, but once again, God tells him that he is giving this 'land' to him and his descendants to possess.

Abram questioned God:

"How may I know that I shall possess it?"

• Genesis 15:8

9. What did the Lord ask Abram to 'bring' to Him? vs. 9 -

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• 2)  
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• 5)

Abram cut all of these in 'two' and laid each 'half' opposite the other, except for the birds which were not cut.

10.  As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram. 

• What 'else' fell upon him? vs. 12 -

11.  God spoke a word of prophecy to Abram. 

• What was it?  vs. 13 -

We know that the covenant will be confirmed to Abram's son Issac, then to Jacob, and Jacob's 12 sons (the sons of Israel) and that after the famine that takes the brothers to Joseph in the land of Egypt ....then the new Pharaoh will enslave the Israelites for 430 years ....so this is God telling all that will come to pass in the future to Abraham.

12.  What does He assure him would be the outcome of their enslavement? vs. 14 -

13.  What did God say would happen to Abraham himself? vs. 15 -

14.  When would Abraham's descendants 'return' to the 'promised' land? vs. 16 -

 

God said it would take that long for the sin of the Amorites to come to full measure (vs. 16).  God does not judge lightly, but gives time and measure before He moves in judgment on a people or a nation.

Just how sinful the Canaanite religious practices were is now known from archaelogical artifacts and the literature that came from them.  Their 'worship' was polytheistic and it included: child sacrifice, idolatry, religious prostitution, and divination.  (from NIV study Bible notes)

15.  When the sun had set and it was very dark, what did Abram see? vs. 17 -

 

This symbolized the very presence of God walking through the cut animals in the fashion of cutting a covenant with Abraham.  God confirmed His covenant with Abraham that his descendants would be given the land from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the Euphrates.

16.  What people groups would be included in the Israelite's possession of this land designated by God? vs.19-21

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Application:

What does it mean to you that God knows ahead of time when seasons of oppression will come in our lives and still He has a plan for a future and a hope for you?

• Jeremiah 29:11 -
• Philippians 1:6 -
• Romans 8:28 -
• Psalm 42:11 -

Your summary and prayer today:

 

 

 

Written by B LeMoine for Heart & Home Bible Fellowship© with permission to use on RTB websites only. For personal or ministry related use, please email Brenda for permission and conditions.