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Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3 or Sirach 3:2-6, 12-12

God’s Covenant with Abram

December 27, 2026

Starry Night, Jean-François Millet
Starry Night, Jean-François Millet, c. 1850–65Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven
A small dark pastel of a night sky over a field, made decades before Van Gogh's, and almost certainly known to him.Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So shall your descendants be.Jean-François MilletA founder of the Barbizon school (1814-1875), who painted peasant labour at a scale previously reserved for history painting and was attacked as a political radical for it.Yale University Art Gallery, New HavenThe oldest university art museum in the western hemisphere, founded in 1832 and free to enter.Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:22-40Lk 2:22-40 orLuke 2:22, 39-40Lk 2:22, 39-40
Second ReadingHeb. 11:8, 11-12, 17-19Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 orCol. 3:12-21Col 3:12-21
First ReadingGen. 15:1-6; 21:1-3Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3 orSir. 3:2-6, 12-12Sir 3:2-6, 12-12
Responsorial PsalmPs. 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (7a, 8a)Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (7a, 8a)

Overview & Insights

“And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

In this account God appears twice to Abram, each time giving him special promises. The text gives no indication of the length of time between these appearances, although it must have been at least a day. In the first appearance God gives Abram an object lesson at night (v. 5), and in the next there is mention of the sun setting (v. 12).

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Take it further: Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3 or Sirach 3:2-6, 12-12

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 15:1-6Commentary on Gn 15:1-6 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on God's promise of descendants and Abram's faith reckoned as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1-6 CommentaryGn 15:1-6 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on the invitation to count the stars and Abram simply believing the Lord.

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Genesis Chapter 15Enduring Word Bible Commentary Gn Chapter 15 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on the covenant with Abram, the shield and great reward, and righteousness by faith.

Genesis 15:1 CommentariesGn 15:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on the word of the Lord to Abram in a vision, Do not be afraid.

Genesis 15 CommentaryGn 15 Commentary Precept Austin

Deep verse-by-verse study notes gathering many conservative scholars on the Abrahamic covenant.

Background & Word Study

Genesis 15:1 InterlinearGn 15:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word by word with parsing for shield (magen), reward (sakar), and believed (aman) in verse 6.

Sefaria: Genesis 15Sefaria: Gn 15 Sefaria

Hebrew text with the Jewish Publication Society translation and classical Jewish commentary on the covenant of the pieces.

BibleProject: Genesis 12-50 OverviewBibleProject: Gn 12-50 Overview BibleProject

Animated literary overview tracing the promise to Abraham that fulfills in Isaac's birth in chapter 21.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Genesis 15Catena: Gn 15 Catena

Patristic comment chained to Genesis 15 (Augustine, Ambrose) reading Abram's faith as the pattern of belief.

Questions preachers ask

What is God's covenant with Abram?

God takes the childless Abram outside to count the stars and promises him offspring beyond number; Abram believes, and his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

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