it's really good to see a couple visitors and those of you who have been with us for a little
bit just want you to know you are in our prayers we pray for each one of you every week and for
those that God will continue to bring as well it's only because he's alive and he's ministering
among us that we come come here that's the only reason so to give you a place of kind of the place
where we're at with our teaching series is that we have preached through the book of John in the fall
we'll continue preaching through a book of the Bible that'll be our normal pattern but we've had
a special treat I think this spring which is to do a series on covenant theology our confession
states that God was pleased to reveal himself by way of covenant and so we're seeing through the
Bible how God has revealed himself the first covenant happened between Father Son and Holy Spirit outside
of time and space and that's the covenant of redemption then we saw how the Lord made a
covenant with mankind with Adam as the first federal head after Adam we saw the covenant that the Lord
made with Noah and all the earth and now we're going to continue with the covenant that the Lord makes
with Abraham the covenant with Abraham begins earlier like in Genesis chapter 12 and it continues
really till Genesis 22 27 it just keeps going but we're picking one key passage one key chapter as
our focus for today so today's sermon text is all of Genesis chapter 15 Genesis 15 verses 1 through 21
I read this believing that this is God's inspired inerrant infallible clear and sufficient word it's God's
very own word for his very own word for his people when I'm done reading I'll say this is the word of the
Lord if you receive it as that you can say thanks be to God
Genesis 15 after these events the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision do not be afraid Abram
I am your shield I am your exceedingly great reward but Abram said Lord God what can you give me
since I am childless in the air of my house is Eleazar of Damascus Abraham continued look you have
given me no offspring so a slave born in my house will be my heir now the word of the Lord came to him
this one will not be your heir instead one who comes from your own body will be your heir he took
him outside and said look at the sky and count the stars if you are able to count them then he said to
him your offspring will be that numerous Abram believed the Lord and he credited it to him as righteousness
he also said to him I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to
possess but he said Lord God how can I know that I will possess it he said to him bring me a three-year-old
cow a three-year-old female goat a three-year-old ram a turtle dove and a young pigeon so he brought
all these to him cut them in half and laid the pieces opposite each other but he did not cut the
birds in half birds of prey came down on the carcasses but Abram drove them away as the sun was
setting a deep sleep came over Abram and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him then the
Lord said to Abram know this for certain your offspring will be resident aliens for 400 years and in
land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed however I will judge the
nation they serve and afterward they will go out with many possessions but you will go to your fathers
in peace and be buried at a good old age in the fourth generation they will return here for the iniquity
of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure when the sun had set and it was dark a smoking pot
and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals on that day the Lord made a
covenant with Abram saying I give you this land to your offspring from the book brook of Egypt to the
great river the Euphrates river the land of the Kenites Kenizzites Kadmonites Hethites Perizzites
Rephaim Amorites Canaanites Gergashites and Jebusites this is the word of the Lord
thanks be to God you may be seated
the grass withers the flower fades but the word of the Lord endures forever amen let's pray
Lord we believe in the Holy Spirit
we believe that the Spirit of God dwells in the people of God
we ask that your Holy Spirit will illumine our minds help us to see your truth in these words
that we've read from the Bible that you inspired that you breathed out through Moses
we pray Lord that as we see your truth we see the gospel being revealed by further steps
that it will be cut to the heart that we will repent and that we will come to you again Lord
in trusting faith today we ask this for your glory for our good for Christ's sake amen
I'm going to read you something off my phone from National Geographic
the article said TikTok specifically hashtag witch talk is fueling interest in the spiritual movement called neo-paganism
inviting you to immerse yourself in full moon rituals spellcasting and more
a resurgence in interest in pagan practices
reconstruction reconstruction reconstructing ancient pagan practices that includes crystals tarot cards
astrology and herbal magic has brought paganism from the fringes to the center
in 2001 134,000 practice paganism openly like that
now the number is over 1.5 million Americans
a pagan is a follower of a polytheistic or pantheistic nature
worshiping religion
you're worshiping the creatures the creation
anyone who denies that the triune God of the Bible
Yahweh the great I am is the only true God is a pagan
a pagan is anyone who worships something less than the true God
anyone who worships an idol is a pagan
even if they wrap that idol in biblical language
there's an ancient God with a lowercase g a fake God an idol
that was the head of the Sumerian pantheon
the name of this idol was sin
this this idol was represented by the moon
and the the moon changes throughout the month
so this God was a lowercase g God that changed
this was a fake God that was hungry for the offerings of grain and cattle and flocks
that would be given to the pagan priests
specifically if a woman was barren or a couple would child were childless
they would pray to this fake God
this was a God that was needy
a God that wanted you to bring things to that God
and to those priests so that in turn you would receive a favor from that fake God
it was transactional relationship
what's interesting is that the temple to this fake God of the Sumerian pantheon
it was located in Ur of the Chaldeans
this was the dominant God of the land that Abram and his father Lamech were from
in 1 Corinthians 10 20 we read
Paul's warning to the church
the things which the Gentiles sacrifice to
they sacrifice to demons
if you are not worshiping the one true God of the Bible
you are worshiping a demon
there's no other options available
so beloved congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ
this is probably the longest title I've ever picked for a sermon
here it is
only pagan idols need
what you and I have to offer
that's my message for you today
because I believe that's the point of Genesis 15
the true God is not like any of these idols
only pagan idols need
what you and I have to offer
I'm going to set up five contrasts as we walk through this passage
here's the first one
idols bait you with what you want
but Yahweh
He gives you all that you need
Yahweh gives you all that you need
notice how this chapter begins
we read in verse 1
after these things
Yahweh's word came in a vision
so is it a sound or is it a sight?
this is similar to the book of Revelations
I heard and then I saw
it's a sound and a sight
it's a revelation from the spiritual realm
to a man like Adam that has senses
and he's a spirit
and it's Yahweh's word
it's Yahweh's message in this vision
Yahweh
maybe we should use this word more
Yahweh means
I am who I am
creator of all that exists
the first mover
above all
that is not God
that's what Yahweh means
and Yahweh's message
came to Abram
in a vision
Yahweh knows
the heart of man
he knew Abram's heart
we can infer
Abram was feeling
Lord
I have no shield on earth
well this is during the bronze age
of history
you can look up online
a Sumerian shield
in the bronze age
it would be a large
bronze shield
that would give you
an extreme advantage
in hand to hand combat
in other words
if you don't have a shield
you have no chance
at winning
the Lord says
don't be afraid Abram
I am your shield
in the chapter right before this
the Lord had already given
Abram
a Gideon like victory
over these four wicked kings
that had swept through
the plain
of the land of Canaan
the Lord
the Lord had shown his power
he had been his deliverer
and Abram
Abram's heart is still
fearful
isn't that true for us
we can look
and see very recently
ways that God has answered
so many prayers
he has been
so faithful
every morning
his mercies are new
but yet
for some reason
our hearts fear
and there is much
that we can fear
every day
there's plenty to fear
but these fears
are like
artillery from hell
and each little fear
it has an effect on us
in this body
even just in our brain
our amygdala
get inflamed
our focus
is taken hostage
we're unable
to absorb
truth
no wonder
this is such a strategic
weapon
of Satan
through these little
darts of fear
he can render
believers
essentially useless
unless the Lord
becomes your shield
this is why
Paul wrote to the church
in Ephesus
Ephesians 6
16
take up
the shield
what is the shield
take up
the shield
of faith
with which
you will be able
to quench
all the fiery
darts
of the evil one
and the psalmist
testifies
this is real
Psalm 1830
Yahweh's word
is tested
he is
a shield
to all those
who run
to him
Abram
is surrounded
in this land
his last
interaction
was with
the king
of Sodom
Sodom
was a land
of wickedness
and he's
the king
over all
that wickedness
he stood
there
protecting
the ability
of these people
to be extremely
wicked
and after
the Lord
gave Abram
this great
victory
the king
of Sodom
said
Abram
you keep
the loot
Abram
said
no
I don't
want you
to have
anything
over me
to be able
to say
I'm the one
who made
Abram
rich
that's
just like
the gods
of the
nations
that's
how demons
work
it's
quid pro quo
bring me
a sacrifice
and I'll
have your
back
that's
the mindset
of the king
of Sodom
and the Lord
is showing
Abram
you're a man
of faith
following my
call on your
life
you are not
like the
world
I am not
like those
idols
the Lord
ministered to
Abram
through
Melchizedek
his name
means the
king of
righteousness
and the
city over
which he
ruled as
king and
priest is
Salem
which means
peace
and here
the Lord
is saying
Abram
not only
am I
your shield
I am
your exceedingly
great reward
how so
Melchizedek
a priest
of God
most high
he's a
shadow
of the air
that will
come through
you
he's a
shadow
of the
great
I am
who will
take on
flesh
from your
line
that's how
I will
be
your
exceedingly
great
reward
and he
blessed
you
he blessed
you in
this land
your
heir
the great
I am
from my
line
he will
bless
the
nations
including
those of
wicked ones
who are
now under
the
binding
of
Satan
reward
is also
covenantal
language
covenants
require more
than one
party
a covenant
is more
loving and
more personal
than a mere
contract
and it's also
more binding
and there's
more at stake
than a mere
relationship
and a covenant
sets up
obligations
it sets up
sanctions
there are
terms that
must be
fulfilled
those are
the covenant
obligations
and then there
are sanctions
that are
positive or
negative
there are
blessings
for obedience
and there are
curses
for disobedience
and this
first verse
is really a
thesis statement
of what the
Lord will
illustrate in
the rest of
this chapter
Abraham
I am
your shield
in this
covenant
I am
your reward
in this
covenant
I am
all that
you need
and he's
about to
show
Abraham
how this
is so
our
confession
states
God was
pleased
to stoop
down
so to
speak
and express
his saving
grace
by way
of covenant
John Gill
took this
interpretation
as well
the Lord
would reward
Abraham
in a way
of grace
with greater
and better
things
than Abraham
could even
know to ask
for and
want
God
would give
Abraham
himself
as
reward
see
idols
want to
bait
you and
me
they want
to dangle
something
that we
want
or at least
our flesh
thinks we
want
and the
Lord
gives you
himself
to meet
all of
your vast
needs
to have
the Lord
himself
as your
reward
it's
exceedingly
great
that's the
language in
verse 1
to have
God himself
as our
reward
it is
vastly
superior
it's
hugely
better
it's
enormously
advantageous
it's
awfully
good
you and
I have
had
pagan
thoughts
of God
we've
thought
that God
needs
something
from us
I'm sure
that even
in our
flesh
we have
thought
that we
can leverage
our
obedience
or something
we give
in exchange
for a
reward
that God
would give
us back
God is
teaching
Abram
and he
wants to
teach me
and you
I am
who I
am
I am
not like
any
other
God
or pagan
idol
I am
eternal
infinite
I am
the
unchanging
creator
and I
stoop
down
near to
you
to be
your
shield
and your
reward
oh
believer
I am
your
creator
all
heaven
and earth
is mine
already
I am
not in a
transactional
relationship
with any
of my
followers
I am
who I
am
and in
Christ
you get
me
you
you get
the
greatest
reward
you get
all that
you need
idols
bait you
with what
you want
but Yahweh
he gives
you
all that
you need
the second
contrast
is that
idols
can only
barter
they're
creaturely
and that's
all they
have to
work with
that's
their only
currency
is to
barter
and trade
to
barter
means to
swap
one thing
for another
some of
you are
following
the NBA
would you
trade one
Jokic
basketball
card
for three
Jason Tatum
cards
no
maybe five
right
would you
trade ten
chickens
for one
piglet
you gotta
weigh the
cost
you gotta
measure it
out
that's
how a
relationship
works
with an
idol
idols
can only
barter
but
Yahweh
alone
can
freely
bless
Yahweh
alone
can
freely
bless
we know
what's on
Abraham's
heart
here
he says
Lord
is my
slave
gonna be
the one
who gets
the inheritance
think of it
from Abraham's
point of view
he had left
this land
of his
fathers
in Ur
his father
went partway
and stopped
then Abram
left them
as well
so here
he is
a sojourner
without
relatives
and family
all alone
trusting
by faith
in God
and he
thought
he had
Lot
Lot's
dad had
died
and here's
his nephew
who could
get his
inheritance
and now
Lot
left him
went to
live in
Sodom
instead
so Abram's
all alone
but God
had already
told Abram
in Genesis
13
I will
make your
offspring
as the
dust
of the
earth
more than
any man
can count
you can turn
back to that
look at
Genesis
13
verse 16
Yahweh
promised
Abraham
to have
offspring
like dust
and now
in verse 2
Abram
says
Lord
Yahweh
what will
you give
me
since I
go
childless
the pagan
gods
in Ur
I would
barter
with them
we would
go and
we would
ask the
God
at the
temple
to please
give us
a child
I go
childless
following
you by
faith
well the
Lord had
promised
children
like
dust
the particles
of dust
are so
small
you can't
count them
it's going
to be
numerous
and vast
dust
but when
you hear
dust
you also
think
of a man
who was
made from
dust
you think
of a mortal
man
on this
earth
an earthly
blessing
in our
confession of
faith we read
that God's
covenant is
revealed in the
gospel first of
all to Adam
in the promise of
salvation by the
seed of woman
and afterwards by
further steps
until the full
discovery was
completed in the
New Testament
so here we
have the
Lord revealing
his promise
to save
men made
of dust
like Adam
being fully
revealed and
taken even
higher
being elevated
look at verse
4 so back in
our sermon text
Genesis 15
verse 4
behold Yahweh's
word came
when we see the
word behold
pay special
attention
this is like
underlining
making it bold
get your
attention
verse 4
the Lord
says one
who will
come out
of your
own body
will be
your heir
yes the
Lord will
give him
Isaac
the Lord
will give
him a
great nation
of Israel
but he's
talking about
one here
who will
be a
great heir
and as
he's giving
him this
promise of
a great
heir from
his own
body
from his
own line
the Lord
gives him
an illustration
of this
in verse
5
Yahweh
brought him
outside and
said look
now toward
the sky
and count
the stars
if you are
able to
count them
he's saying
consider these
stars study
them intently
so as to
learn from
them
and the
Lord says
so your
offspring
will be
he had
first said
your offspring
will be like
the dust
of the earth
creaturely
formed by
God's own
hand like
Adam
having a
body
now he's
adding to
that promise
he says
the offspring
from the
air that's
coming from
your line
this great
offspring will
not only be
like the
dust
they will
also be
like the
stars
they will
have a
body
they will
be mortal
but look
up at these
celestial signs
that rule
the night
they revolve
around the
sun
that's
how the
offspring
will be
this great
nation
that are
spiritual
that are
lifted up
to God
the Lord
the creator
of the stars
and all
he will
take on
a man's
body
and a
soul
unto the
person
of God
the son
God was
promising
Christ
to Abraham
and he was
promising it
freely
Abraham
believed in
the promised
seed
just like
Eve
by faith
our confession
clarifies this
that justification
of believers
under the
Old Testament
was in all
respects the
same as
justification
of believers
under the
New Testament
God freely
offers sinners
life and
salvation by
Jesus Christ
and God
requires faith
in him
to be saved
the Lord
gives to all
those he
ordained to
eternal life
his Holy Spirit
making them
willing and
able to
believe
the Lord
is promising
these great
blessings
to Abraham
and he only
requires one
thing from
Abraham in
response
and that is
faith
Abraham
obeys God
by believing
this promise
receiving it
by faith
look at verse
six
Abraham
believed in
Yahweh
Yahweh I
believe you
can take
dust like
me and
make me an
air like the
stars a
spiritual being
in the heavens
and God
credited this
faith to
Abraham for
righteousness
this is the
same promise
and the same
offer that God
gives you and
me today
Galatians 3
7 says
you who are
of faith
are children
of Abraham
we are
fulfilling
the prophecy
that was
clarified again
in Daniel
12 3
we who
receive Christ
by faith
we are those
who shine
as the brightness
of the expanse
those who turn
many to righteousness
who shine
as the stars
forever and
ever
the Lord
promises that
if you put
your faith
in Christ
he will bless
you spiritually
he will lift
you up with
Christ
and he requires
one thing of
you
that's faith
believe him
respond in
obedience
he says
oh believer
I am the
giver of life
and I am
building a
great nation
I'm taking
dust
and I'm making
it into
stars
you bring
your sin
and I give
you my
righteousness
in exchange
I love that
hymn that we
just sing
all the
fitness
God requires
is that we
confess our
need of
him
idols can
only barter
but Yahweh
alone
he can
freely bless
the third
contrast is
that idols
can only
disappoint
but Yahweh's
word
stands
forever
idols
can only
disappoint
they bait
you with
what you
want
and your
expectations
will never
be met
but Yahweh's
word
by contrast
it stands
forever
when he gives
himself with
his word
he will never
disappoint
his steadfast
love endures
forever
look at verse
seven
Yahweh said
to Abram
I am
Yahweh
who brought
you out
of Ur
of the
Chaldees
to give
you this
land
to inherit
it
Abram
said
Lord
Yahweh
how will
I know
that I
will inherit
it
with the
focus on
the land
I want
you to
drop your
eyes down
to verse
18
in that
day
we are
told
Yahweh
made a
covenant
with
Abram
saying
I have
given
this land
to your
offspring
so this
covenant
in Genesis
15
it is
mediated
with
Abram
as the
federal
head
representative
and it's
a promise
of land
this land
of Canaan
that the
Lord is
promising
to Abram
and the
Lord fulfills
this on
one level
with the
people of
Israel
but we
also need
to take
all of
the
counsel
of the
Lord
and shed
it back
on this
the Bible
says that
once the
Lord has
ratified
a covenant
nothing else
can be added
or taken
away from
that
so let's
turn in
our Bible
to Galatians
chapter 3
Jeremy
read this
for us
earlier
Galatians
3
we read
in Genesis
15
in that
day
Yahweh
made
a
covenant
with
Abram
saying
I
have
given
this
land
to
your
offspring
Galatians
chapter 3
verse
15
says
once a
covenant
has been
confirmed
no one
makes it
void
or adds
to it
now
the promises
were spoken
this is
verse 16
to Abraham
and his
offspring
he doesn't
say
to descendants
as of
many
but as
one
to your
offspring
which is
Christ
the Lord
is making
a covenant
with
Abram
and
Christ
who will
come from
Abram
that's the
interpretation
Galatians
3
16
gives us
so now
we need
to understand
this covenant
of God
that can't
have anything
added or
taken away
from it
promising
the land
ultimately
to Christ
it's an
inheritance
a possession
that will
last
forever
and ever
and it's
a covenant
that God
makes
that is
gracious
Abram
is receiving
this freely
by God's
grace
now
I'm going
to pull
a catechism
question
from the
Westminster
larger
catechism
because
it summarizes
this truth
very well
I believe
the question
is this
with whom
was this
covenant
of grace
made
the answer
is the
covenant
of grace
was made
with Christ
as the
second
Adam
and in
him
all
the
elect
as his
seed
so as we
search our
Bibles and we
see what is the
offspring
all of the
promises attached
to you and
your offspring
we're told that
even in this
first promise
of a land
by grace
it's given to
Abram by faith
in Christ
in Christ's
seed
as the
offspring
the
conclusion
I believe
we have to
draw from
this
covenant
transaction
is that
the
covenant
of grace
is made
between
the
triune
God
and his
elect
in Christ
that's what
the covenant
of grace
is
so the
only
souls
in the
covenant
of grace
are those
to whom
Christ's
redemption
has been
applied
are you
in the
covenant
of grace
you are
if Christ
has applied
his redemption
his finished
work
to you
you're
receiving
his grace
Romans 8
19
says
for the
creation
waits
with eager
longing
for the
revealing
of the
sons
of God
all of
creation
wants to
see who
are these
who will
be heirs
of God
who will
be like
the stars
who are
those that
Christ
purchased
their
redemption
and how
do you
know
you know
when the
Holy Spirit
applies this
redemption
to these
believers
Acts 3
25
we read
that God
promised
Abraham
through your
offspring
all peoples
on earth
will be
blessed
this is only
possible
through Jesus
Christ
through Jesus
Christ
who comes
from the
line of
Abraham
all the
peoples
of the
world
will be
blessed
who believe
in him
while you're
there in
Galatians
would you
look back
at verses
2 and
3
Galatians
chapter 3
verses
2 and
3
what Paul
is getting
at with
the church
in Galatia
is this
you know
from the
story of
Abraham
he's justified
by faith
not by
works
you know
that
but look
at what
Paul writes
in verses
2 and
3
did you
receive
the spirit
by works
of the
law
or by
hearing
of faith
you
received
the word
you received
the gospel
you first
believed
and were
justified
the same
way as
Abraham
are you
so foolish
having
begun
in the
spirit
are you
now
completed
in the
flesh
the same
God
who
justifies
you
by faith
he wants
to grow
you
and sanctify
you
by that
same
principle
of faith
and grace
not by
your works
don't get
you into
the covenant
of grace
or the
kingdom
of God
and your
works
are not
what keep
you in
the covenant
of grace
why is that
it's because
you are
Christ's
reward
Christ is
the one
who will
receive the
land
and the
nations
based on
his
personal
perfect
and perpetual
obedience
the only way
that the
word of the
Lord can
stand
forever
in this
covenant
as if
Christ
fulfills
it
Christ
is the
one
who has
to
merit
and
fulfill
the
covenant
obligations
in order
to receive
the blessings
so that
the word
of God
will stand
true
idols
can only
disappoint
but
Yahweh's
word
it stands
forever
the fourth
contrast
is this
idols
make you
slave
for
your
worth
to
them
you
have
to
slave
and
work
to
make
an
idol
happy
to
get
something
back
but
Yahweh
he gives
you
terms
that you
cannot
keep
all his
terms
do
is
humble
you
as
unworthy
when you
hear the
high stakes
of the
holiness
of God
and what
he requires
the effect
it should
have
is not
I can
do that
better
than
anyone
else
it should
be
I cannot
do that
just like
anyone
else
I can't
I'm
unworthy
I have
to receive
from him
freely
let's
look at
verse 9
the Lord
says to
Abraham
bring me
a heifer
that's a
female cow
that's
three years
old
and a
female goat
a ram
a turtle
dove
and a
young
pigeon
these are
the exact
same
animals
that God
will later
require
in the
sacrificial
system
he's
foreshadowing
how he
will make
atonement
and give
the people
a picture
of the
sacrifice
that would
wipe away
sins
in the
finished
work of
Christ
in verse
10
Abraham
obeyed
he brought
these things
and divided
them in
the middle
and laid
each half
opposite the
other
but he
didn't
divide
the
birds
so
Abraham
takes
these
animals
he cuts
them in
half
and he
lays
one half
on either
side
of this
aisle
just like
we have
an aisle
down the
middle
here
and the
blood
from these
animals
is draining
down into
the center
so there's
going to be
a little
pond of
blood
from all
these
different
animals
mixing
together
right in
the middle
but the
animals
cut in
two
set side
by side
this is
not a
sacrifice
for the
forgiveness
of sins
this is
different
what's
going on
this is
a covenant
sealing
ceremony
it's how
we're going to
ratify a
covenant
between two
parties
this is what
kings would do
when one king
would conquer
another
they would set
this up
as a
picture
of the
maledictions
of covenant
breaking
if you
break
this covenant
that we're
making between
me and
you
may what
happened to
these pieces
be done to
you and your
family and your
houses turned to
rubble and
everything burned
and that's what's
going on
the one who
passes through
stamping in the
blood and letting
that blood splash
up on your legs
takes on the
obligations to
fulfill the
covenant that you
just made
let's turn to
Jeremiah 34
you can see for
yourselves this
principle of
covenant
obligations
Jeremiah chapter
34
the reason this is
important is
because the
covenant that the
Lord makes
it's more correct
if we say that
it is conditional
upon someone
keeping the
terms of the
covenant
when the
Lord makes a
covenant with
the nation of
Israel
it's on a
principle of
works
and that's what
we see in
Jeremiah chapter
34
verses 18
through 20
the Lord makes
a covenant with
the nation of
Israel
we get a
description of the
leaders of
Israel the
princes the
priests the
representative heads
of all the
people look at
what verse 19
says
Jeremiah 34
19
all Israel
has transgressed
my covenant
they have not
performed the
words of the
covenant which
they made before
me when they
cut the calf
in two and
passed through
the parts
Israel was
submitting
themselves to
keeping the
terms of God's
covenant and
they represented
that by cutting
an animal in two
passing through
letting that
blood splash up
on them may
the blood of
this this
covenant curse
be on us if
we break it
and now
Jeremiah is a
covenant prosecutor
he's saying the
people of God
have failed to
keep what they
promised me they
would keep and
so I'm going to
punish them by
sending them into
exile
now notice back
in our passage
Genesis 15
the next verse is
surprising
Genesis 15
verse 11
we read that
the birds of
prey came down
on the carcasses
and Abram
drove them away
birds of
prey are like
vultures
things that are
going to eat a
dead animal that's
just sitting there
and it takes a
while before they
can smell that
before the aroma
is blowing on
the desert plains
and these animals
will come
so time is
passing
Abraham set up
this covenant
ceremony
but time is
passing
the animals are
coming down
Abraham has to
drive them away
and that's because
Abraham
he refuses
to pass through
the pieces
he's not
disobeying God
he's humbled
he's being
meek
he knows
that if I
pass through
these pieces
I'm
obligated
to keep
the terms
of a covenant
with the
holy God
the Lord
said in the
sermon on the
mount
blessed
are the
meek
the lowly
the modest
the humble
the ones
who know
they need
God's grace
the ones
who know
they need
an alien
righteousness
not their
own
and what
is the
promise
attached to
that blessing
they shall
inherit
the earth
believer
you and I
deserve the
sword
we deserve
to be cut
we deserve
God's wrath
for our sin
for breaking
his covenant
we cannot
fulfill the
terms of the
covenant of
grace
on our own
and that's
how the
covenant with
Yahweh works
it's not like
the idols
want to keep
you on the
hook
you're my
slave
you gave
me
you promised
you would
do this
now you
owe me
that's not
Yahweh
Yahweh wants
you to be
humble
he wants
you to
confess
I am
unworthy
I am
unable
to keep
your law
perfectly
for myself
I need
your righteousness
put on me
the last
contrast
is how
it ends
for those
who follow
idols
versus those
who follow
Yahweh
idols
and pagans
those who
worship
something less
than the
one true
God
they will
face
Yahweh's
judgment
one day
he is a
just God
and he
will punish
all those
who worship
something less
by contrast
if you are
in the covenant
of grace
by Christ's
finished work
Yahweh
himself
is your
shield
I am
shields you
from the
wrath you
deserve
back in our
sermon text
Genesis 15
we get
another vision
in the middle
of the night
in verses
15
14
and 13
God is
foretelling
the rest
of Abraham's
life
in the
exact
history
of the
people of
faith
before Joshua
leads the
next generation
into this
very land
I want to
draw special
attention to
verse 16
it's unusual
I think for a
very important
reason
Genesis 15
verse 16
God is
saying
at my
time
in the
fullness of
time
my kingdom
of priests
this nation
that used
to be
slaves
they used
to be
dust
and now
they're
stars
they're a
nation
of
priests
they will
enter this
land
and they
will judge
those who
live there
but it will
only be at
my right
time
because
for now
the iniquity
of the
Amorite
is not
yet full
that's a
little unusual
right
why the
iniquity
of the
Amorite
well Deuteronomy
chapter 1
verse 44
tells us
that the
mountains of
Judea
so the
southern part
of Israel
where Judea
is
the tribe
of Judah
that is
Amorite
hill country
Moses referred
to Og
the king
of the Amorites
as a very
tall man
whose bed
of iron
was 13
and a half
feet long
in Deuteronomy
3 11
and the
Lord is
giving this
vision
of this
great nation
led by
Joshua
whose Hebrew
name is
Yeshua
entering
to conquer
and possess
the promised
land
and as he
enters he
brings the
judgment
of Yahweh
the holy
God
and he
takes back
these hills
of Judea
he takes
Zion
to be his
holy hill
and to set
up the
kingdom
where there
will be a
tabernacle
a temple
and also
a throne
he takes
back the
hill
of the
Mount of
Olives
where the
I Am
will pray
and he'll
intercede
for all those
the Lord
will draw
and another
hill
that was
possessed
by the
Amorites
is Calvary
and from
that hill
the promised
seed from
long ago
will crush
the enemy's
head
the great
and final
Yeshua
Jesus Christ
that's the
end of
those who
worship idols
that's the
end of
every pagan
who settles
for something
less than
God himself
but there's
more good
news with
this vision
it's that
Yahweh
is your
shield
this covenant
is conditional
someone
must fulfill
the covenant
terms
and though
it's conditional
it is
unilateral
it is
one sided
and look at
verse 12
with me
when the sun
was going
down
a deep
sleep
fell
on Abram
on top
of that
was terror
and great
darkness
that fell
on him
it's unilateral
because Abram
brings nothing
to this covenant
he's knocked
out
he's quiet
and in this
this quiet
passive state
the Lord
acts
this is a picture
of while we were
sinners in
darkness
we were under
the terror
of God's wrath
falling upon
our sin
and in that
very condition
Christ
died for us
look at
verse 17
it came
to pass
that when
the sun
went down
and it
was dark
it was dark
it was shadowy
this is mysterious
it's uncontainable
behold
pay attention
in this vision
Abram's
apprehending
something
he describes
it in his
prophetic idiom
this way
it's a smoking
furnace
and a flaming
torch
passing
between
these pieces
a smoking
furnace
the furnace
in the bronze
age was used
to refine
metal
you would
take metal
that was
covered in
dross
but you
would
refine it
several times
through the
fire
you would
know that
all the
dross
had been
cleared
off of
it
when it
started
to shine
and serve
like a
mirror
and a
flaming
torch
a torch
that's bright
in this
extreme
darkness
it's a
blinding
light
it's a
reminder
too of
this
image
of the
glory
cloud
of
God
who's
going
to
leave
the
people
of
Israel
through
the
wilderness
the
fire
cloud
and
pillar
two
vertical
columns
of
smoke
that's
what's
passing
through
to
ratify
this
covenant
of
grace
consuming
these
separate
parts
uniting
them
into
one
glorious
bright
shining
cloud
drifting
upward
toward
heaven
where
angels
long
to
watch
it's
the
Lord
himself
who
takes
on
all
of
the
obligations
of
covenant
keeping
the
Lord
takes
you
and
me
who
are
like
dust
and
we're
parts
we're
all
divided
up
but
he
unifies
us
he
draws
us
into
his
consummate
work
and
as
we're
swept
up
into
the
glory
cloud
of
God
by
the
work
of
Christ
in
our
place
we're
reflecting
his
glory
to
the
world
we're
being
lifted
upward
toward
God
Hebrews
6
13
says
that
God
made
a
promise
to
Abraham
and
since
he
could
swear
by
none
greater
he
swore
by
himself
how
do
you
know
that
Yahweh
will
be
your
shield
and
your
great
reward
it's
because
God
himself
submitted
to the
covenant
terms
that
he set
up
he
fulfilled
them
by taking
on flesh
by becoming
our
righteousness
by dying
on the
cross
to pay
for our
sin
and then
putting that
on you
as a
free
gift
of grace
we who
simply
receive him
as Abraham
did by faith
I am
who I
am
I
took
on the
covenant
obligations
I
passed
through
the
wrath
and the
punishment
that you
deserved
for you
let's
spend some
time
reflecting on
this word
of the
Lord
and this
picture of
Christ's
finished
work for
us
A
Thank you.