Genesis 15

When I proposed marriage to my wife, we were both in college still.  I was working as a part time, interim pastor.  It doesn't get much more unstable than that!  I also worked at a local christian book store part time as well.  Needless to say, the assests I brought into our marriage weren't much. An old car and a bunch of books!  But our marriage, the covenant we entered into, was not based on what we had, but on our faith in each other to be there.

As we've studied Abram, we've heard that word over and over and over:  COVENANT  And this week is no exception.

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." 2 Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." 4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." 5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. 

[Gen 15:1-6 NASB]

On this last verse hang almost all of the promises of scritpure, that Abram was justified by his faith,  and that God counted to him as righteousness.  Abram was called by God, and he did what we all can do:  he believed.

Verse 6 is a nail in the coffin of legalism, moralism, self-righteousness and then on that nail hangs all the scripture.  We are justified - made holy- by faith.  

This is good news to us, as we could not equal the deeds of Abram, or his wealth or power. But we all can believe, and that is all that God requires of us.

Genesis 14 War of the Kings

Abram has been called by God, chosen by God, and given a promise from God.  Even though he has made some missteps along the way, God has promised that through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

While following God's plan for our life, there are many things that pop up and try to distract us from the work God is doing. Abram's life is no exception, and Genesis 14 is just that.


The nephew of Abram, Lot, gets caught up in a war between kings in the countryside surrounding Cannan.  Abram goes to rescue him, over coming the kings and rescuing not only his nephew, but many others as well.

God has enable you -equipped you- to meet the needs of the people around you.

You might not have physical wealth and prowess like Abram, but we have through Jesus access into all the spiritual riches of Christ.


The story continues as Abram meets Melchizedek, King of Salem.  He is, according to his name and title, the King of Righteousness and King of Peace.  He is also a priest of the Most High God.    There is no lineage of Abram, and to us he is a picture of Christ.

Genesis 14 reminds us that

1.  Our salvation, even our success in life, is owed to someone else.

2.  We must choose God as Abram did, even when the world offers all it has to us.

3.  There is a war over what we will be satisfied in, God or the world.  the choice is ours.