Genesis 15:1-10 ▼

1 Some time later, a message came from the LORD to Abram in a vision: |Don't be afraid, Abram. I am your shield. Your reward will be very great.|

2 But Abram replied, |Lord GOD, what can you give me since I continue to be childless, and the heir of my household is Eliezer from Damascus?

3 Look!| Abram said, |You haven't given me any offspring, so a servant born in my house is going to be my heir.|

4 A message came from the LORD to him again: |This one will not be your heir. Instead, the child who will be born to you will be your heir.|

5 Then the LORD took him outside. |Look up at the sky and count the stars—if you can!| he said. |Your descendants will be that numerous.|

6 Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

7 The LORD spoke to him, |I am the LORD, who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance.|

8 But he replied, |Lord GOD, how will I know that I will inherit it?|

9 The LORD responded, |Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.|

10 So Abram brought him all these animals and cut each of them in half, down the middle, placing the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half.