genesis 15 and 16

Read Genesis 15 and 16 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Gen 15:1-21 {s} Promise reaffirmed by covenant
Gen 16:1-16 {s} Abram’s faith in the promise tested (Hagar and Ishmael)

“And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Gen 15:6

There is another powerful teaching tool embedded within the Scripture, and that is the teaching tool of the original Hebrew language. Many biblical scholars believe Hebrew to be the original language of Eden, and the parent language from which the other languages at Babel were divided. (See the further reading below for more on this fascinating topic). Ancient Hebrew was a pictorial language of 22 characters, each character representing something familiar.

“Believed” is in Hebrew, aman, Strong’s H539, a three- letter Hebrew root, אָמַן, aleph + mem + nun. The aleph was originally the ox head, which represented strength or leadership. The mem was originally the water, which could also represent any liquid. The nun was originally the seed, and could also mean continuation in either the biological or agricultural sense. So what is the story the ancient pictographs are painting, of belief?

Ancient people used to put animal hides in a pot of boiling water, and skim off the thick substance that formed at the surface. This “strong water” was used as glue (and is still the basis of glue production today). So the first two letters combined means “to bind,” when used as a verb, or “glue,” when used as a concrete noun. The addition of the nun makes belief the bond that continues. The Hebrew language defines the abstract concept of belief as ideas or truths that stick with us continually.

Abram believed in the LORD, i.e., he and those in his household were of the few (the only?) who believed that YHVH was the Creator of heaven and earth, the one true God, while the rest of the earth practiced paganism; and he believed the LORD – he believed the LORD’s words were true, even if he had yet to see them fulfilled.

As to why the covenant God cut with him caused Abram’s belief to be made secure:

“A covenant is instituted through a sacrifice of a choice, fatted animal which is cut in two and the parties of the covenant pass through the pieces. If one party fails to meet the agreements of the covenant, then the other may do the same to them.” – Jeff Benner,  Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, pg. 74

It is that the blood of the covenant may be avenged in the blood of the covenant breaker, that makes the blood covenant of the ancient world binding and unbreakable. This is why God cutting a blood covenant with Abram gave him the surety that he was asking for in Gen 15:8.

This covenant, in which God’s obligation was to fulfill His promise, and Abram’s obligation was simply to believe Him, was renewed in the blood of Messiah Yeshua on the cross, and opened to all mankind, to whosoever will come and be grafted in! ♥

For further reading:

Ancient Hebrew Research Center – Dr. Jeff Benner
Living Word Pictures – Dr. Frank Seekins
What Language Does YHVH Speak? – Brad Scott on Truth2U Radio
Covenant – Jewish Encyclopaedia