Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 15
Overview:
God encourages
Abram.
(1) The Divine promise,
Abraham is
justified
By Faith.
(2-6) God promises
Canaan to
Abraham for an
inheritance.
(7-11) The promise confirmed in a
Vision.
(12-16)
The promise confirmed
By a sign.
(17-21)
1 God assured
Abram of safety and happiness; that he should for
ever be safe. I am thy
Shield; or, I am a
Shield to thee,
present with thee, actually caring for thee. The consideration
that
God himself is, and will be a
Shield to his people, to
secure them from all evils, a
Shield ready to them, and a
Shield
round about them, should silence all perplexing, tormenting
fears.
2-6 Though we must never complain of
God, yet we have leave to
complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to
a burdened
Spirit, to open its case to a
Faithful and
compassionate friend.
Abram's complaint is, that he had
No
Child; that he was never likely to have any; that the want of a
son was
So great a trouble to him, that it took away all his
comfort. If we suppose that
Abram looked
No further than outward
comfort, this complaint was to be blamed. But if we suppose that
Abram herein had reference to the promised Seed, his desire was
very commendable. Till we have evidence of our interest in
Christ, we should not
Rest satisfied; what will all avail me, if
I go Christless? If we continue instant in
Prayer, yet pray with
humble submission to the Divine will, we shall not seek in vain.
God gave
Abram an express promise of a son. Christians may
believe in
God with respect to the common concerns of this
Life;
but the
Faith By which they are justified, always has respect to
the person and work of
Christ.
Abram believed in
God as
promising
Christ; they believe in him as having raised him from
the dead, Ro 4:24. Through
Faith in his
Blood they obtain
forgiveness of sins.
7-11 Assurance was given to
Abram of the land of
Canaan for an
inheritance.
God never promises more than he is able to perform,
as men often do.
Abram did as
God commanded him. He divided the
beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in
confirming covenants, Jer 34:18,19. Having prepared according
to
God's appointment, he set himself to wait for the sign
God
might give him. A watch must be kept upon our spiritual
sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon
our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend
On
God without distraction.
12-16 A
Deep sleep fell upon
Abram; with this sleep a horror of
great
Darkness fell upon him: a sudden change. The children of
Light do not always walk in the
Light. Several things were then
foretold. 1. The suffering state of
Abram's seed for a long
time. They shall be strangers. The heirs of
Heaven are strangers
On Earth. They shall be servants; but
Canaanites serve under a
Curse, the
Hebrews under a blessing. They shall be suffers.
Those that are blessed and beloved of
God, are often sorely
afflicted
By wicked men. 2. The
Judgment of the enemies of
Abram's seed. Though
God may allow persecutors and oppressors to
trample upon his people a great while, he will certainly reckon
with them at last. 3. That great event, the deliverance of
Abram's seed out of
Egypt, is here foretold. 4. Their happy
settlement in
Canaan. They shall come hither again. The
Measure
of
Sin fills gradually. Some people's
Measure of
Sin fills
slowly. The knowledge of future events would seldom add to our
comfort. In the most favoured families, and most happy lives,
there are
So many
Afflictions, that it is merciful in
God to
conceal what will befall us and ours.
17-21 The smoking
Furnace and the burning
Lamp, probably
represented the Israelites' severe trials and joyful
deliverance, with their gracious supports in the mean time. It
is probable that this
Furnace and
Lamp, which passed between the
Pieces, burned and consumed them, and
So completed the
Sacrifice, and testified
God's acceptance of it.
So it intimates
that
God's covenants with
Man are made
By Sacrifice, Ps 50:5.
And we may know that he accepts our sacrifices, if he kindles in
our souls pious and devout affections. The bounds of the land
granted are stated. Several nations, or tribes, are spoken of,
that must be cast out to make room for the seed of
Abram. In
this
Chapter we perceive in
Abram Faith struggling against, and
triumphing over, unbelief. Wonder not, believers, if you meet
with
Seasons of
Darkness and distress. But it is not the will of
God that you should be cast down: fear not; for all that he was
to
Abram he will be to you.