God’s Covenant with Abram
(Romans 4:1–12; Hebrews 11:8–19)

1After these events, the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Abram (exalted father) in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,

your very great reward.”

2But Abram (exalted father) replied, “O Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH}, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer (God is my helper) of Damascus (well-watered land)?” 3Abram (exalted father) continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

4Then the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be <Rom 4:18>.”a

6Abram believed the LORD {YHWH}, and it was credited to him as righteousness <Rom 4:3, Rom 4:22, Gal 3:6, Jas 2:23>.b

7The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD {YHWH}, who brought you out of Ur (flame) of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) to give you this land to possess.”

God Confirms His Promise
(Numbers 34:1–15; Romans 4:13–25)

8But Abram replied, “Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH}, how can I know that I will possess it?”

9And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”

10So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram (exalted father) drove them away. 12As the sun was setting, Abram (exalted father) fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.

13Then the LORD said to Abram (exalted father), “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions <Act 7:6–7>.c 15You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age. 16In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites (sayers) is not yet complete.”

17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses. 18On that day the LORD {YHWH} made a covenant with Abram (exalted father), saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt (land of bondage) to the great River Euphrates (fruitfulness)— 19the land of the Kenites (smiths), Kenizzites, Kadmonites (easterners), 20Hittites, Perizzites (villagers), Rephaites, 21Amorites (sayers), Canaanites (merchants), Girgashites (dwelling on clay), and Jebusites (Jerusalemites).”