Genesis 15:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

NIV: But Abram said, 'Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?'

NASB: But he said, 'Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?'

CSB: But he said, "Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it? "

NLT: But Abram replied, 'O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?'

KJV: And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

NKJV: And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”

As the Lord's conversation with Abram continues, God reminds Abram of His promise to give to him and his descendants the land of Canaan. Now Abram asks for something tangible: "How can I know I will possess it?"

Notice, as when he asked about having children (Genesis 15:2), Abram begins his question with great respect, addressing God as "O Lord God" or "Sovereign Lord." Abram's questions do not represent a lack of faith, accusation, or bitterness. This passage makes it clear that Abram has already put his faith in God (Genesis 15:6), and continues to do so. This is a request for God to reveal even more of Himself to Abram—Abram is asking for reassurance.

That's exactly what God will provide in the following verses. The symbolism of the ritual shown in these next verses is powerful, and includes prophetic hints at the future of Abram's nation. Along with this symbolism is a demonstration of how certain God's promise to Abram really is.

Genesis 15:1–21 falls between Abram's heroic rescue of Lot in Genesis 14 and his less-than-heroic choice to have a child with his wife's servant in chapter 16. Chapter 15 features Abram's hard questions to the Lord about how the lofty promises of uncountable descendants and possession of the land will be kept. God responds, in part, by formalizing His covenant promises to Abram with an elaborate ritual. He also reveals to Abram details about the difficult circumstances his descendants will face before they come back to take possession of the land ''in the fourth generation.''

Genesis 15 consists entirely of a long encounter between the Lord and Abram. When the ''word of the Lord'' comes to Abram in a vision to bring reassurance of God's support for him, Abram takes the opportunity to press God with questions. Abram asks both about his childlessness and how he can know he will one day possess the land of Canaan. God responds, and Abram believes. God's response includes leading Abram through a covenant ritual involving slaughtered animals, as well as a prophecy about the future of Abram's descendants before the time will come to occupy the Promised Land.

Where Genesis 14 was an action-packed story of war and rescue, Genesis 15 consists of a single conversational encounter between the Lord and Abram. This concludes with the formalizing of God's covenant promises to Abram in a dramatic covenant ritual. Abram respectfully asks the Lord some hard questions about how the seemingly impossible promises might be kept. God responds and Abram believes. In addition, God reveals to Abram a prophecy about the difficult future his descendants will face as servants in another country before returning to take possession of the land of Canaan.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/5/2024 4:18:14 AM