#6 “Journey of Faith”
Series
“COVENANT STAGE!”
TEXT: Gen
15:1-21
INTRO: Several
years ago this article appeared in an east coast paper:
A woman was driving home when she
noticed a huge truck behind her driving a bit too close for comfort. She stepped on the gas to put some
distance between her and this big truck, but when she
stepped on the gas so did the truck driver! The faster she drove, the faster he
drove!
Now scared ... she exited the freeway
in the hopes of losing him, but to her pounding heart so did the truck driver!
She began making turns all over the
cities streets trying to get away from the truck driver ... but like before he
kept right up with her, now reaching the point of panic she quickly drove into a
gas station, jumped out of her car screaming for help ... only to be amazed at
the sight of this truck driver following her right into the gas station ...
suddenly the truck driver screeched to a halt and ran out of his truck to the
back door of her car ...
To her amazement, the truck driver
pulled out of her car’s back seat a man who had been lying on the floor waiting
to rape her once she had driven to an isolated place ... the truck driver being
in such a high place in his cab behind her had noticed the man at the first stop
light ... he had been chasing her to save her from this man’s evil
desires...
SHE had been running from the wrong
person! Instead of the truck driver being her
terror, he had turned out to be her savior ... even at the cost of
endangering his own life from driving such a big rig so wildly following her
crazy driving!
How like so many people today ... they
are running away from the wrong source! The more they run from God the more God
chases them ... while they fear what God might do to them should He catch them,
they are unaware of the enemy hiding in the dark place of their existence ...
God is not chasing you to hurt you ... but to save you! LET HIM
CATCH YOU!!
PROP.
SENT: The way to God is OPEN ... God
longs for us to have fellowship with Him. He has paid the
price, done the work, and signed the deal ... He only waits for us to
accept the GOOD NEWS! The name of
the door in is “FAITH” ... God is waiting for you ... let Him
in!
I. OPERATION: DESERT SHIELD! Gen. 15:1-6
A. Securities! 15:1
1. "After
this" ... after all the desert tests Abram still wasn't
perfect!
2. So far, many of the tests of Abram
have been tests of securities ... some he did better at than
others.
3. But this did not mean all these
tests were finished!
4. The desert was hardly DISNEY
WORLD!
a. Abram might have wondered: “This is God's
best for me?!”
b. He had all that money ... but no
place to really spend it!
c. The desert hardly offers many
securities! (That’s why it is
called a desert!)
5. What’s the point? To teach this rich young man who had
everything to forget trusting in those things ... and to trust in one who
created all things: God!
ILLUS: Some see
stability in wealth – It is their anchor. They may have an experience similar to
that of the ship Marine Electric, which sank off the coast of
6. It is significant that the
substance of this vision was the foundation of the WORD OF
GOD!
7. God offers 3 things for Abram’s
security:
a. "Don't be
afraid!" Fear is the #1
killer of faith!
b. God says, "I am your
SHIELD!" What is the
ultimate protection for our sense of well-being and
security?
(1. The desert is a place of many
enemies ... they can come against you from any direction ... the most versatile
defensive item was a shield because it can be used from any
direction!
(2. It is interesting that in EPH. 6 listed in the "armor of
God" is the "SHIELD OF FAITH!"
c. "Your very great
reward!" God is telling
Abram that HE is actually the real wealth of Abram ... God is our ultimate
reward!
8. These are still the 3 areas of
concern today; the past, the present, and the future. ("Fear, protection,
future.")
B. Success?
15:2-6
1. It was the future issue that pushed
the lights on for Abram ... the one about reward ... or his
future!
2. Abram's response: "What can you
give me, a man without a future, who has no
kids?"
3. Abram wasn't complaining as
much as he was confused ... his response was, "look God, I've
done what I can about my future ... Eliezer my servant has already been granted
my estate as my ‘legal’ heir!"
4. Abram's "success" however in taking care of his
future wasn't God's plan!
5. God would take care of the problem
in a far greater way than Abram was capable of ... God now clarifies the
plan!
a. "your heir will
come from your own body!"
b. "Since you can't
do it without me Abram ... I'll make it possible!"
ILLUS: Nothing
that is God's is obtainable by money. -- Tertullian, "Money in Christian History," Christian
History, no. 14.
c. "While God
doesn't always do the miracles we want ... all things are still possible with
Him!"
6. While God makes this promise ...
Abram simply responds, "I believe!"
a. It is a good thing that God doesn't
explain the time frame of this promise to him however!
b. It would be from this point yet
another 25 years before this promise of God's becomes
reality!
c. This would prove to be the biggest
test of Abram's faith ... the time factor!
(It usually is for us too!)
d. Success would come at the strangest
point in time for Abram ... when failure was the strongest possibility success
would overtake it!
II. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT SIGNED! 15:7-11, 17-21
A. Substance
15:7
1. The starting point of the contract
would be, "I
AM THE LORD" … the emphasis being
of course, "YOU'RE NOT THE LORD,
ABE!"
2. Any good deal with God must include
this first provisional clause!
3. The substance was really on GOD'S
STRENGTH AND POWER, not on Abram's!
4. The elements of the two promises
were:
a. "You will have a
future Abram ... by descendants from your own
body!"
b. "Your
descendants will have this piece of
property!"
5. The emphasis indicates that these 2
things will be brought about by God’s own promise and
power!
ILLUS: Pastor
Rittenhouse and his family were on vacation traveling down the highway when they
saw a suitcase fly off the top of a car going the opposite direction. They stopped to pick it up, but the
driver of the other car never stopped. The only clue to the driver's identity
was a twenty dollar gold piece inscribed: "Given to Otis Sampson at his
retirement by Portland Cement Company."
After extensive correspondence, Otis Sampson was located and contacted.
He wrote a letter telling them to
discard the suitcase and all its contents, and send only the gold piece. Mr. Sampson used the phrase "my most
precious possession," several times to describe the gold piece. Pastor Rittenhouse sent the gold piece,
and wrote a cover letter telling Otis Sampson about his most prized possession,
Jesus Christ. A year later, the
pastor received a Christmas package. In it was the twenty dollar gold piece.
Mr. Sampson wrote, "You will be
happy to know we have become active members of a church. We want you to have this gold piece.
I am seventy-four; my wife is
seventy-two. You were the first one
to tell us about Jesus. Now He is
our most prized possession." -- James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton:
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 262.
B. Struggle! 15:8
1. The question here by Abram is not
so much one of doubt about a son ... he would know that when THAT happened ...
the question was more how would he know that his descendants would get the
land?
2. The reason: It was unlikely he
would live long enough to know if this part became a reality or not – he would
live to see the reality of a son, but not the many descendants getting the
land!
ILLUS: The
promises of God are certain, but they do not all mature in ninety
days. -- Adoniram J. Gordon -- Vern McLellan, The Complete Book of
Practical Proverbs and Wacky Wit (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
1996).
3. It is so much like us, to believe
God in some areas ... but then struggle in other
areas!
4. Abram's request was not critical
for the times ... when promises were made in that day they were usually ratified
in some practical way to ensure confidence in the pledge made – he was not being
critical or doubtful when requesting some measure of contract
here!
C. Specific 15:9-11,
17-21
1. Contracts then were made in 3 ways:
(in order to be legal!)
a. Blood
contracts: This involved
cutting in half some animal while both parties joined hands and walked together
through the bloody halves! ... The meaning of this was simple: Whichever party
broke the contract they were stating by walking between the bloody pieces that
the same thing that happened to the animals would be done unto them should they
break the deal!
b. Shoe
contracts: As seen in Ruth 4:7-8, the “kinsman-redeemer” deal, a shoe or sandal would
be given to the other party to seal a contract for property, to transfer
property. (“No strings attached!” – sorry, couldn’t resist the
pun!)
c. Salt
contracts: “Covenant of
salt” – created friendships and alliances between enemies, etc. Many times such a contract would be
shared at a meal together. This was
a binding contract that ended feuds between enemies.
2. This was to be a blood covenant ...
which was the strongest and most binding of the 3 types of legal
contracts!
3. There would be one difference
however ... ONLY God would pass between the animal halves ... indicating
the contract was guaranteed by Him alone, no matter
what!!!
4. The specific guarantee was
concerning the land ... and by implication the descendants who would live
there!
a. Think of what this says about the
land of Israel today and the Jewish people’s right to live there
today!
b. God keeps His word
forever!
5. God however reveals even more to
Abram than the deal called for...
a. Interestingly enough; the first and
second covenants of God were made in the midst of dreadful
darkness!
b. His descendants would be in
c. However, God will use this to make
them multiply and become rich!
d. It will also allow another 400 to
500 years for the Canaanites to repent; God does not pour judgment out without
opportunity for repentance, even generous time for it!
6. The details here about the Amorites
gives us an important look into the God of the Old Testament ... not a vengeful,
murdering, God ... but a God who is long suffering and patient ... giving ample
time for a change of heart!
7. It also though reveals a God who
clearly cannot ignore sin forever. Unless one accepts the blood covenant they have no
hope!
ILLUS: Lee
Atwater, former Republican Party chairman, said this before he died: "The
eighties were about acquiring: wealth, power, and prestige. I know. I acquired more wealth and power
and prestige than most. But you can
acquire all you want and still feel empty." -- Frank
Pollard, "Do You Like Where You Live?," Preaching Today, Tape No.
104.
8. The idea of "full
measure" meant "beyond hope or
change!"
9. While Abram sleeps, God does the
work of sealing Himself into this deal!
10.
Abram's only responsibility was to "KEEP THE BIRDS
OF PREY OFF..."
a. We are to keep our sacrifices
unpolluted ... not to keep the covenant intact, but to keep it
honorable!
b. Abraham was a busy man chasing away
the birds of prey!
11.
Finally it was legal ... thanks to God!
12.
The point is obvious in this passage: God sacrificed His own son Jesus to
make good a deal that would save us ... while we were engulfed in dreaded
darkness, a covenant of
blood was sealed by God Himself to redeem us ... to those who simply
accept the contract by faith!
III. OBSERVATION: DIVINE SCHEDULE! 15:12-16
A. Salvation!
15:12-16a
1. Only God makes the deal good ...
only God could keep the terms of the contract without death overtaking
us!
2. Abram's efforts would have failed
in the not too distant future had he also passed between the pieces ... death
would have been his due!
ILLUS: In the day
of horse and buggies, a father went to the school house to pick up his three
children ages 9, 11, and 17. As
soon as he had them in the buggy -- just before he stepped in--probably out of
fear of the storm, the horses bolted and took off in the blizzard. Hours and miles later, when he found his
children, the 17-year-old girl stood over the dead and frozen bodies of her
brother and sister ages 9 and 11.
Sobbing uncontrollably, she collapsed into his arms. When she had regained her composure, she
explained to her dad that she tried to take her big, heavy coat and wrap it
around them all. But she said, "The
coat wasn't big enough."
The blood that Christ shed on the
cross was big enough to cover all of your sins and mine -- all your lusting, all
your lying, all your cheating, all your hatred, all your own
faults. -- R. Larry Moyer, "Right Smack in the Middle of Sin,"
Preaching Today, Tape No. 148.
3. In God's love He prevents Abram
from participating in guaranteeing the deal ... God would seal the document
alone, so Abram could rest from his efforts!
4. However, Abram would have to
accept the deal ... or it could not cover his life; how does this
happen?
a. By simple acceptance: "ABRAM
BELIEVED!"
b. It was this "faith" that was credited to Abram as
righteousness!
5. God promises "PEACE" and security to
Abram!
6. Abram could rest in the future ...
it was official, God signed the document guaranteeing
salvation!
7. And in the picture given to Abram
He also showed His grace and plans!
a. His descendants would multiply ...
but in captivity!
b. His descendants would be unfairly
mistreated!
c. But they would conquer in time ...
and be freed in time ... the process would make them rich ... but still they
would be dependant upon God!
d. His descendants would be given the
land ... but not at the expense of those who lived there already ... at least
not until it was sure that they were at a point of no
return!
e. God would not be indifferent
towards the Canaanites ... from this vision to Abram to the time God actually
destroys the Canaanites would be almost 500 years! ... Plenty of time for them
to change and repent … but they don’t!
B. Sorrow!
15:16b
1. The sad reality is that the
Canaanites didn't repent ... even though given an additional 500 years compared
to their 400 or so to this point in time!
2. The greatest sorrow is that of the
lost!
3. “God is not
willing that any should perish” ... but history tells us that some
have refused the deal of a lifetime ... forfeiting therefore the terms of the
benefits allowed them!
ILLUS: Lloyd H.
Steffen wrote in The Christian Century how when King Frederick II, an
eighteenth-century king of Prussia, was visiting a prison in
That one sat quietly in a corner,
while all the rest protested their innocence. Seeing him sitting there oblivious to
the commotion, the king asked him what he was there for. "Armed robbery, Your Honor." The king asked, "Were you guilty?" "Yes, Sir," he answered. "I entirely deserve my punishment." The king then gave an order to the
guard: "Release this guilty man. I
don't want him corrupting all these innocent people." -- Donal W. Brenneman
4. God takes no pleasure in those who
refuse the blood
covenant He has made to promise life ... but He also cannot forever
ignore the unrepentant sin ... there is a time when the “cup of
wrath” is full and sin must have its own reward ... death! (Spiritual
death!)
5. This passage reveals a God in the
Old Testament that is not quick to destroy the wicked ... He gives every
opportunity in time!
6. Those who accept the contract
experience the promises made therein ... why run away from the "Driver" who is chasing you to protect you ...
don't get away from God while carrying the enemy with
you!
CONCLUSION:
When God promised "better
savings" He wasn't afraid to put it in writing! It was ultimately signed, sealed, and
delivered in Jesus Christ -- how do you get in on this deal of a lifetime? The same way Abraham did ... by
Faith!