HCBC Sunday School - “Friends” Class
Waiting for the Promise (Genesis 15:1-7, 13-16)

1) First Thoughts
a. Not all promises are kept and some people are more faithful in keeping their promises than others.
b. Genesis 15 deals with the promises God makes. He is a promise keeper, and He will keep His promises to us no matter how long that takes.
2) Understand the Context
a. By Genesis 15, the text already has revealed a good deal about the faith of Abram, i.e., left his home, followed the Lord to the land, traveled to Egypt, separated from nephew Lot who he later rescued from dangerous kings. Abram continued a pattern of worship. The original promise of offspring had not yet been fulfilled.
3) Explore the Text
a. Abram’s Frustration (15:1-3)
i. “fear not” – God is in control of the future in a way that calms our fears and doubts.
ii. “I am thy shield” – What a comfort it is to know God protects us in the battles we face. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, …” ~ Ephesians 6:16
iii. “reward” – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. ~ Hebrews 11:6
b. God’s Promise (15:4-5)
i. God keeps His promises even though He doesn’t always keep our schedule.
ii. “the word of the Lord” – We can trust God’s Word; He is the source and power of those words.
iii. Vs. 5 – God uses physical examples to teach spiritual truths.
c. Abram’s Faith (15:6)
i. Faith is the means by which we can be made holy and righteous before God.
ii. Righteousness can only come by placing our faith in our perfect Savior who perfectly forgives through His death on the cross and resurrection.
d. God’s Plan (15:7,13-16)
i. Learning to trust God with our present and building upon the times we have trusted God in the past can help us trust the Lord into the unfamiliar future.
4) In My Context/Memory Verse:
a. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. ~ Genesis 15:6