A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

that a natural son born after a legal adoption always replaced the adopted son as a legal heir. God
drew Abram’s attention to the stars still visible and announced, “So shall your descendants be”
(15:5).
Abram’s response to the word of God was faith. “And he believed in the Lord” (v. 6).
The Hebrew word translated “believed” is ‘aman. In a typical covenant ceremony this was the
actual response of one party to another in expressing agreement. It may have been that Abram
expressed his faith by saying ‘aman at the appropriate place in a covenant ceremony. In Scripture
the word “amen” is always a strong affirmation of faith. Some writers have translated this
phrase, “Abram said, ‘Amen’ to the Lord.” This is the first specific mention of faith in Scripture.
Though others before had believed God (cf. Heb. 11:1-7), the word “believe” first occurs here.
These early verses of Genesis 15 are filled with first references. Another first mention
here is that of imputed righteousness. “He accounted it to him for righteousness” (v. 6).
Righteousness refers to the state or condition of being right with God. Just as the sin of Adam is
imputed to everyone born physically, so the obedience or righteousness of Christ is imputed to
everyone who by faith is born again spiritually (cf. Rom. 5:12-21). In expressing faith in God,
Abram received the imputed righteousness of Christ (4:3) and became the friend of God (James
2:23). Abraham was declared righteous through his unconditional trust in the Lord, because he
believed the word of God and was willing to act on it.
THE CONFIRMATION OF FAITH
(Gen. 15:7-21)
In the remaining verses of this chapter God used the customary means by which men
formed contracts or covenants in Abram’s day to form an eternal covenant with Abram. He
began by first identifying Himself noting, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the
Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it” (Gen. 15:7). The foundation of this covenant was
God’s character and revelation of Himself to Abram. On this foundation alone, everything else
rested.
Abram then responded to God with a natural question, “Lord God, how shall I know that
I will inherit it?” (v. 8) This was not an expression of doubt but rather a request for some
confirmation of the promise. God confirmed His promise to Abram by committing Himself in a
blood covenant. These blood covenants were customary among the peoples of Canaan even
before God gave it a special significance here. Typically, several animals were severed and laid
out on either side of a path. The two parties entering into the covenant would then pass together
through the rows of dead animals as a demonstration of their commitment to fulfill their
covenant obligations (cf. Jer. 24:18). The implication of this act seems to be the suggestion that
if the party failed to fulfill his covenant obligation, he should die like the animals.
Abram’s obedience to God in preparing the animals for the covenant service is a
demonstration of his faith in God. It is interesting to note that one of every acceptable sacrificial
animal was used in this ceremony. It is noted that the birds of prey, representing the enemies of