Did the Lord appear to Abraham in human form on the mountains of central Israel?
Yes. The context describes the Lord as being there in human form, standing with Abraham on the mountains of central Israel, looking out in all four directions. This appearance precedes the Genesis 15:5 command to look toward heaven and count the stars.
Les explains that the Lord is there in human form, standing with Abraham on those mountains of central Israel. They are looking out in all four directions, and then the Lord speaks in Genesis 15:5. He tells Abraham to look toward heaven and count the stars, not the dust or particles of the earth, but the heavenly bodies. This points to a spiritual relationship and a heavenly people included in Abraham's promises, alongside the earthly promises through Israel. Les connects this to the covenant promise in Genesis 12:3, that all families of the earth would be blessed, not just the Jew, and says Romans 4 will keep referring back to Abraham in detail.