CONTENTS In the two former Chapter s, we find many tokens of God's gracious intention towards Abram. In this Chapter God confirms the same by the solemn treaty of a covenant. Abram had the most delightful assurances given to him by a faithful God; and all folded up within a covenant of promise. A b... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. Those expressions are not the language of unbelief, but of humble enquiry. See Genesis 12:2 and Genesis 13:16. It is sweet to spiritualize. Doth not every faithful son of Abram say the same, until Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. How instant sometimes are the divine communications! See that promise, Isaiah 65:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. God had before promised, that his seed should be as the dust of the earth. Genesis 13:16. Here it is promised to be as the stars of heav... [ Continue Reading ]
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Reader! behold how the apostle Paul extols this faith. Romans 4:19. But may we not add, that this was a believing faith, on the person and righteousness of Jesus? See John 8:56 and Hebrews 11:4. There is one thing highly observ... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. It is delightful to observe, that when God engageth to bless his people, how he makes reference to his own glorious character, by way of assurance. Hebrews 6:13, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? See observations on Genesis 15:2 (See POOR on "Genesis 15:3 ")... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. It is not altogether fanciful to trace even in the minute circumstances of sacrifice, somewhat referring to Him unto whom all the sacrifices referred? Is not the three years of age a type of the Redeemer's three years ministry?... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. The sun going down denotes the season of sacrifice, Daniel 9:21.Concerning the sleep, see Genesis 2:21. Solomon's Song Song of Solomon 5:1; Matthew 25:5. Concerning the horror-(perhaps... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. Smoking furnace. See Deuteronomy 4:20; Isaiah 48:10. Burning lamp. See Isaiah 62:1; Exodus 3:2. The former intimating affliction: the latter comfort. But... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS LET the visions of God with Abram have this effect upon all the true seed of Abram, earnestly to desire and as highly to prize, all the gracious manifestations of the divine love. May we esteem all the ordinances and means of grace, which tend to open a channel of communication between... [ Continue Reading ]