God’s Covenant with Abram Genesis 15:1-21 God’s Covenant with Abram

Main Themes or Messages World Behind the Text Establishing the foundational identity of the People of Israel and Covenant relationship between Israel and YHWH their God. The passage reflects many details of the everyday life, customs, and beliefs of a tribal, agricultural and nomadic people in a period around 2500 – 2300 BCE.

Where is it situated? Genesis 15:1-21 is situated in the first book of the Pentateuch (Torah) in the section dealing with the patriarchal history ie the foundational identity of the people of Israel. Genesis 15:1-21 is placed between Abraham’s call and response (chs. 12–14) and Abraham’s final acts (23:1—25:11).

This section is in turn composed of three narrative cycles (Abraham-Isaac, 11:27—25:11; Isaac-Jacob, 25:19—35:29; 37:1; Jacob-Joseph, 37:2—50:26), interspersed by the genealogies of Ishmael (25:12–18) and Esau (ch. 36).

The World of the Text Structural Features Literary background is complex and debated. Compiled from a number of sources, by numerous authors over a long period of time. Texts in Genesis have been edited at particular points in time in response to historical events and the perspectives of particular authors.

As part of Genesis, it is not conclusive who the authors are. Contemporary thought is that it is most likely from the Priestly source. After the deportation of many of the people of Israel to Babylon, the priests re-read and re-interpreted the traditions of the Pentateuch to sustain the faith and hope of an exiled people. (See summary of Authors of the Pentateuch)

Author’s Purpose The authors want their people to hold on to their faith. faith and hope in the two promises ie many descendants and land.

The authors think of God as controlling everything. Whatever has happened in their history must have been intended by God and so must be consistent with God’s promises and God’s design for them.

Text Type It is a narrative. It is the beginning of the first of three narrative cycles (Abraham-Isaac, 11:27—25:11). As well as a narrative, it is a reflection on history, dressed up as a prophecy (Gen 15:13-16).

Narrative Features Introduction Introduction is Genesis 15:1-6 dealing with the promise of descendants.

Righteousness in context It has the oldest and most profound statement concerning the significance of faith. “And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.” (Gen15:6) Abram was wise as to what is according to God’s will.

Narrative Body God and Abram enter into a Covenant relationship. (Gen 15:7-16). The Covenant is ratified in a religious ceremony giving it solemn significance. The Covenant promises blessings, including land, prosperity and the promise of fertility and numerous descendants.

Some Literary Features (Gen15:1-2) The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision – Highly significant as the appearance of a deity to a human is rare in the OT. ‘After these things’ ie the conquest of the invading kings. ‘The word of the Lord’ ie a phrase used, when connected with a vision, to denote a prophetic message.

(7-11) The idea of cutting the animals in two and walking between them is to demonstrate that the person making the commitment is calling down upon himself the fate of the animals if he does not keep his word.

Tension is added by the presence of vultures but Abram drove them away. (Gen 15:17-21) YHWH offers the same solemn assurance when ‘a dark smoking pot’ and ‘a flaming torch’ passed between these pieces. Both of these a sign of God’s presence.

Narrative Conclusion (Gen15:18-21) ‘On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram’. The gift of the Promised Land … on which the people of Israel base their hopes on.

World in Front of the Text Abram/Abraham is often called “Our Father in Faith”. He is a model for Christians in their faith journey because his response to God, entailed a willingness to leave the security of the known and set out on a journey into the unknown.

Abram/Abraham reminds us that it is necessary to step outside our comfort zone in order to live our faith. This requires faith. God is the giver. We cannot earn God’s gifts. To receive them , however, we must welcome them, for Love never forces itself upon us. Faith is precisely the welcoming of Grace. We must do as Abraham did.

What Does This Mean in our World Today? Abraham is the “Father in Faith” to Jewish and Islamic religions too. In Abraham, Christians, Jews and Muslims find a common ancestor. In our times, as in the past, prejudice, misunderstanding, discrimination and even violence have too often characterized relations between the three Abrahamic religions.

What Does This Mean in our World Today? Christians, Jews and Muslims as “children of Abraham” need to draw on their common religious heritage, to break down barriers and to build a more peaceful and just world.

Achievement Standard By the end of Year 9, students demonstrate how the application of Biblical criticism helps the reader's understanding, interpretation and use of Old Testament and New Testament texts. They examine the divergent understandings of God, (Allah, God, G*d) in the monotheistic religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism).