Question 1

What does God mean when He says to Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward?

Accepted Answer

When God tells Abram, “I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward,” He is speaking right into Abram’s fears and worries. A shield is for protection, so God is saying He Himself will guard Abram, not just send help from a distance. Calling Himself Abram’s “reward” means God is more than any riches, victory, or honor Abram has gained. Even if Abram lost everything else, having God would still be enough. This shows that true safety and happiness for God’s people are found in God Himself, not in their own success or strength.

Question 2

Why is Abram worried about going childless, and what does God promise him?

Accepted Answer

Abram is deeply troubled because he has no child and is getting older. He knows God has spoken about his offspring, but all he sees is an empty tent and a servant, Eliezer, as the likely heir. He fears the promise will die with him. God answers very clearly that Eliezer will not be his heir. Instead, a son will come from Abram’s own body. Then God brings Abram outside, points him to the stars, and says his descendants will be as countless as the night sky. God meets Abram’s fear with a direct and generous promise.

Question 3

What does it mean that Abram believed in the LORD and it was counted to him for righteousness?

Accepted Answer

This line shows how Abram is put right with God. Abram does not bring God a list of good deeds. Instead, he takes God at His word about a son and a future he cannot yet see. God “counts” or credits that trust as righteousness. In simple terms, God treats Abram as right in His sight because Abram leans on God’s promise, not on himself. This becomes a pattern for later believers: being accepted by God is tied to faith in His promise, not to earning His favor by works.

Question 4

Why does God tell Abram to cut animals in two, and what is the meaning of the smoking furnace and burning lamp?

Accepted Answer

God tells Abram to bring specific animals, cut them in half, and lay the pieces opposite each other. This was an old way of making a very serious agreement, showing that the parties were bound to keep their word at the cost of their own lives. Abram waits and drives away birds that try to eat the pieces. Then, in the dark, a smoking furnace and a burning lamp pass between the pieces. This sign shows God Himself passing through, taking the covenant on His own shoulders. God is saying He will surely keep His promise about Abram’s offspring and the land.

Question 5

What is the meaning of the prophecy about four hundred years of affliction for Abram’s seed?

Accepted Answer

God tells Abram that his descendants will live as strangers in a land that is not theirs, will serve the people there, and will be badly treated for four hundred years. This points ahead to the time when Abram’s offspring live in a foreign land and are oppressed before God brings them out with great wealth. God also promises to judge the nation that enslaves them. This shows that God knows the suffering that is coming, sets a limit on it, and will use it for His plan. Affliction will not be the end of Abram’s family; rescue and blessing will follow.

Question 6

Why does God say the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full?

Accepted Answer

When God says the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full, He is explaining why Abram’s descendants will not take the land right away. The Amorites and other peoples in the land are already sinful, but God has chosen to wait before bringing judgment. Their sin has not yet reached the point where He will remove them. This shows both God’s patience and His justice. He does not rush to destroy, but He also does not ignore evil forever. In time, when their sin has fully grown, God will give the land to Abram’s offspring.

Question 7

What was happening in Abram’s life when God spoke these promises to him?

Accepted Answer

This vision comes after Abram has already left his homeland, traveled to a strange country, and faced danger to rescue his nephew. Outwardly, he has wealth and has just turned down riches from a king, trusting God instead. Inwardly, he still wrestles with fear, especially about having no child and no clear heir. Into this mixture of obedience and anxiety, God speaks. He calms Abram’s fears, reminds him who brought him out of his old life, and gives fresh promises about a son, countless descendants, the land, and God’s care over future generations.

Question 8

What does this passage teach about God’s character toward His people?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows God as personal, patient, and faithful. He does not scold Abram for his questions but answers them kindly and clearly. God calls Himself Abram’s shield and reward, so He is not just giving gifts; He is giving Himself. He speaks about the future in detail, including suffering and rescue, showing that nothing is hidden from Him. By walking alone between the pieces of the sacrifice, God binds Himself to keep His word. All of this reveals a God who draws near to fearful people, carries the weight of His promises, and can be trusted even when the road ahead is dark.

Question 9

How can Abram’s example of faith in this passage help believers today?

Accepted Answer

Abram’s faith is not perfect, but it is real. He brings his fears and complaints to God instead of pretending to be strong. He listens when God speaks, looks at the stars as God tells him, and chooses to believe what God says over what his eyes see. God counts that faith as righteousness. For believers today, this encourages honest prayer and simple trust. You can bring your questions to God, cling to His promises in Scripture, and rest in Him as your shield and reward, even when you do not yet see how His plans will work out.

Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

God’s Covenant with Abram

God Confirms His Promise

God’s Covenant with Abram

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Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

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God’s Covenant with Abram

God Confirms His Promise

God’s Covenant with Abram

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