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Lenten Season · Second Sunday in Lent · Year C

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

God's Covenant Promise to Abram

March 12, 2028

Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator
Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator, 14th centuryMuseum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
A manuscript miniature of the covenant at nightfall: the split carcasses laid out, and the furnace and torch passing between them while Abraham sleeps.It is the reading, including the detail that God walks the oath alone and Abraham is asleep for it.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)The oldest book museum in the world, built on a Dutch nobleman's library and devoted to the book as an object.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 13:31-35Lk 13:31-35 orLuke 9:28-36, (37-43a)Lk 9:28-36, (37-43a)
EpistlePhil. 3:17-4:1Phil 3:17-4:1
Old TestamentGen. 15:1-12, 17-18Gn 15:1-12, 17-18
PsalterPs. 27Ps 27

Overview & Insights

"And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6)

The LORD comes to Abram in a vision and promises to be his shield and great reward. When Abram protests that he is childless, God brings him outside to count the stars as a sign of his offspring, and Abram believes the promise.

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Take it further: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18Commentary on Gn 15:1-12, 17-18 Working Preacher

Working Preacher's reading of Abram's two visions of descendants and land.

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18Gn 15:1-12, 17-18 Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching-focused commentary on the same Year C occurrence of this text.

Genesis 15 Commentary: God Confirms the Covenant with AbramGn 15 Commentary: God Confirms the Covenant with Abram Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse commentary on the covenant ceremony and its ancient Near Eastern form.

Genesis 15 CommentaryGn 15 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed word study distinguishing God's promises from the covenant ratified in verse 18.

Genesis 15:1 CommentariesGn 15:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries verse by verse on Abram's vision and covenant.

Genesis 15:1 InterlinearGn 15:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew text and parsing for the covenant-cutting ceremony in verses 9-18.

Background & Word Study

Genesis 12-50 Video OverviewGn 12-50 Video Overview BibleProject

Video overview of the Abraham narrative, including the covenant of Genesis 15.

Genesis 15 (Hebrew-English)Gn 15 (Hebrew-English) Sefaria

Hebrew-English parallel text of the chapter for direct comparison.

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