When we read chapters 13 & 14 of Genesis, we see Abraham the great warrior. The savior of his nephew. We also see the spiritual man meeting Melchizedek the priest of God and giving him
“a tenth of everything”.
In chapter 15, however, we see not a different man but the inner workings of the man. We discover that this great man of faith and valor is in many ways like the rest of us. He is a man full of “fear” and doubts. Therefore, just like us, he is in need of the word of God.
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.” Gen. 15:1
This is not unusual in the bible. Many men of God are presented as courageous and fearful at the same time. In 1 Kings 18 Elijah confronts and defeats the prophets of Baal with courage and unwavering faith only to see him in chapter 19 feeling fear of Jezebel. In Acts 18 Paul in Corinth is preaching the gospel bravely to jews and gentiles. However, he describes what he was feeling on the inside in 1 Cor. 2:3 stating “I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling.”
To both Elijah and Paul, the Lord came. His word comforted and encouraged them to stay the course. The same happens here in Genesis 15. Abraham, to our surprise, appears to be distressed. God comes to him in a vision to comfort and encourage him.
As we exposit the chapter, we will discover the root of his fear. We will see that his fear ultimately was due to spiritual doubt and intellectual confusion. Both of which the Lord deals with.
In this chapter also we come across Gen. 15:6 “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
This verse is quoted 3 times in the New Testament. Paul uses it more than any other to make the case for justification by faith alone.