Genesis 14-15: God's DTR with Abram

Abram follows God's leading into strange lands fraught with warfare and danger for him and his family. In chapter 14, we read about how Lot is captured by invaders and Abram leads an army (made up entirely of his household) to go rescue him! Even though Abram succeeds in rescuing Lot from the invaders, I'm sure by this point he is thinking, what in the world did I get myself into?

But God knows Abram's heart and his fears. He begins in chapter 15 by saying,

"Do not be afraid, Abram, I am always your shield and protector. Your reward for loyalty and trust will be immense"  Genesis 15:1, The Voice

What a relief it must be for Abram to hear these words from God! We don't know how many days, months, or years have passed between his initial calling by God to leave his familiar land. He may not have heard from God for quite a while.

So it probably comes as a serendipitous surprise when God renews His promise to Abram:

"Look up at the stars, and try to count them all if you can. There are too many to count! Your descendants will be as many as the stars."   Genesis 15:5

Abram believes God. He trusts that, no matter how he felt in the moment, that God is going to be faithful to His promise.

At the end of chapter 15, we receive a pretty odd picture-- Abram preparing a strange sacrifice before the Lord and falling into a deep sleep. At first, this can just seem like another awkward "Old Testament" detail to skip over. But then we read this,

"With this ritual and on this day, the Eternal One made a covenant with Abram." Genesis 15:18

On this day, God makes His relationship with Abram official and binding! God Himself enters into a covenant agreement with a man, and not only that, but enters into it by a common (for it's day) man-ordained ritual. It's as if God meets with Abram with his lawyer and they shake hands and sign a contract together. God doesn't mind stooping down to Abram's level to help him know that He will fulfill His commitment. God meets Abram where he is: He makes a commitment that Abram can understand, and He reveals to Abram the future of this great nation He has promised.

Despite the fear and doubt that Abram has throughout these chapters, God will keep his covenant with him. He will honor His word. He will make Abram into a nation of His people.