Genesis 15

God makes a formal covenant with Abram, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars and the land of Canaan. Abram believes God and it is credited to him as righteousness. God reveals that Abram's descendants will be enslaved for 400 years before returning to the land.

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After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

“Romans 4:3Direct Quote

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Read Romans 4 ›

“Galatians 3:6Direct Quote

He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness — Paul in Galatians

So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Read Galatians 3 ›

“James 2:23Direct Quote

Abraham believed God — James on faith and works

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

Read James 2 ›

“Romans 4:3Direct Quote

'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Paul's key argument: faith has always been the way — even before the law existed.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Read Romans 4 ›

“James 2:23Direct Quote

'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' James and Paul both quote this — real faith always shows up in how you live.

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

Read James 2 ›

The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?”

And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”

So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half.

And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.

Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.

You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.

In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—

the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,

Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”