Tag: Genesis 15

318

Posted on by jovial_cynic

But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Genesis 15:2 (NKJV)

In Genesis 15, we meet Eliezer (אֱלִיעֶזֶר).

Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Genesis 14:14 (NKJV)

In Genesis 14, Abram went with 318 men to rescue Lot.

I’m not into numerology too much, but do you want to see something weird?

א = 1;
ל = 30;
י = 10;
ע = 70;
ז = 7;
ר = 200

The name Eliezer happens to add up to… 318.

Perhaps all of our victories in God are through Eliezer (“God is my help”).

God is my Help

Posted on by jovial_cynic

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Genesis 15:2 (NIV)

Abram has a servant named Eliezer. His name is a compound word, comprised of El (God) and ezer (help). It means “God is my help.”

This is the same servant who later will find a bride for Isaac.

Fear Not

Posted on by jovial_cynic

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
Genesis 3:10 (NIV)

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Genesis 15:1 (NIV)

If you study it from the beginning, you’ll see that Genesis 15 is speaking directly to the things of Genesis 3.

These are the first two instances of this word “afraid” in scripture.

The Spaces Between

Posted on by jovial_cynic

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.
Genesis 15:17 (NIV)

When you see this text as an echo of Genesis 1 and 2, you’ll understand that “let there be light” doesn’t have to be a blinding light. It can be a torch, just bright enough to know which direction to look.

And behold: God is in the space between the things that are separated.

Sleep and Darkness

Posted on by jovial_cynic

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
Genesis 15:12 (NIV)

The rabbis say that sleep is a microcosm of death. How would Adam have known to fear death until he was terrorized with unnatural sleep?

And here in Genesis 15, we see it plainly. Darkness hasn’t been mentioned since Genesis 1. This is an echo of Genesis 2.

Darkness

Posted on by jovial_cynic
Darkness is mentioned at the start of Genesis 1, and the rest of the chapter continues in a description of days, and of things we see in the Light.

Darkness isn’t mentioned in Genesis 2. Or Genesis 3. In fact, we don’t get this word again until Genesis 15, when God makes covenant with Abram. It starts in darkness, and then God shows up. That is the story of our relationship with God.