“As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.”
Genesis 15:12
BSBGo deeper on this verse (3)
- How Can I Know? God Cuts a Covenant with Abram (Genesis 15)
Why did God put Abram into a deep sleep?
Genesis 15:12 says "a deep sleep" fell on Abram as God cut His covenant. The word is tardemah (H8639), rare and deliberate, the same deep sleep God brought on Adam here before He built the woman. Both times God did the decisive work while the man could only lie there. Abram added nothing to the covenant; he could not even stay awake for it.
Read the whole studyConnection with the man's deep sleep in Eden
Deep sleep here is tardemah (H8639), a God-sent sleep, the same sleep that fell on the man in Eden. Abram slept while God moved between the pieces and cut the covenant alone. The word marks the moments where God does the decisive work and the human can only receive it.
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How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Engage with Genesis 15:12 in a fresh way
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