What did Les mean when he said God 'brought him forth' to Abraham in Genesis 15:5?
In Genesis 15:5, the phrase describes a direct, face-to-face encounter between God and Abraham, not merely an inward impression. God came down and took on human form, dealing with Abraham eyeball to eyeball. This visible appearing also occurred at Abraham’s calling out of Ur and is evident again in Genesis 18.
Les explains that in Genesis 15:5 the words “And He brought him forth” point to a personal, visible meeting. He teaches that the Lord dealt with Abraham on a face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball basis. Les thinks this is where God came down and took on human form, as He did at the calling out of Ur. He notes that in Acts chapter 7 the Greek word is optomai, which deals with sight, and Stephen rehearsed that the Lord appeared, optomai, to Abram. The word also appears back in the Hebrew. So Les is sure God dealt with Abraham face-to-face more than once, and says it is evident again in Genesis 18.
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.