Why is the promise in Genesis 15 different from the earlier covenant promise to Abraham?
The earlier covenant promise in Genesis 12–13 emphasized numerous physical descendants—Abraham's seed as the dust of the earth through Isaac and Jacob, forming the nation of Israel. In Genesis 15, God does something totally different: He gives Abraham a promise that ties him to us, a distinct promise beyond the earlier national focus.
Les explains that Genesis 13 enlarges on the covenant promise given in chapter 12, where God said Abraham's seed would be as the dust of the earth—a great offspring through Isaac and Jacob, the nation of Israel. Though Israel has been a small nation over 4,000 years, tremendous numbers have come from this promise. But in Genesis 15, God does something totally different: He gives Abraham a promise that ties him to us, as recorded in verse 5. Les also notes that God dealt with Abraham face-to-face, appearing to him, as at the calling from Ur (Acts 7, optomai), and later in Genesis 18. The difference is thus a shift from the earlier national seed promise to a promise connecting Abraham to us.
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.
More Questions
How did God deal with Abraham when He brought him forth in Genesis 15?
When Genesis 15 says 'He brought him forth,' Les believes this means that the Lord dealt with Abraham on a face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball basis.