Genesis 14:1-15:21

God's Covenant and Abraham's Faith

Speaking to Moses, God refers to Himself as "the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). Jesus quotes this passage, explaining that by referring to Himself as the God of the patriarchs, God reveals that He "is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:32). The patriarchs, whose stories we find in Genesis, were the recipients of an extraordinary covenant. They live on in God's presence to enjoy the fulfillment of His promises. Christians today can learn much from these living patriarchs. Looking at Abraham, we see a life lived by faith, and God's faithfulness even in times of weakness. In Isaac, we see the fulfillment of God's promises and generosity in the face of persecution. In Jacob, we discover God's power in the birth of a new nation and its twelve tribes. Join Pastor Lloyd for this in-depth look at the patriarchs in Genesis, and learn how you too can live a life of faith and promise!

  1. And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
  2. That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
  3. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
  4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
  5. And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
  6. And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.
  7. And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
  8. And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
  9. With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
  10. And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.
  11. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
  12. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
  13. And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.
  14. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
  15. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
  16. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
  17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
  18. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
  19. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
  20. And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
  21. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
  22. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
  23. That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
  24. Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
  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.
  2. And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
  3. And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
  4. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
  5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
  6. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
  7. And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
  8. And he said, LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
  9. And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
  10. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
  11. And when the fowls came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
  12. And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
  13. And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
  14. And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
  15. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
  16. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
  17. And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
  18. In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
  19. The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
  20. And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaim,
  21. And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.