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Genesis 18 occupies the place of the First Lesson for the next two weeks. This week we find Abraham and Sarah encountered by the three mysterious travelers under the trees at Mamre. Next week, we listen-in to Abraham’s appeal for the sparing of wicked Sodom. Preachers and their hearers would benefit from spending these two … Continue reading “Genesis 18:1-10a Commentary by Samuel Giere”

God’s promises are the central feature of the Abrahamic story. They occur in almost every chapter (Genesis 12-25). The promises are spoken by God in the first person, and most of them directly to Abraham (two of them are to Hagar). This appointed Genesis text is focused on promise, spoken regarding both Abraham (verses 1-7) … Continue reading “Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Commentary by Terence E. Fretheim”

A name is a powerful thing. A name identifies, describes, and presents us. One’s name may be the most intimate feature of one’s identity — of all identifiers, our names come the closest to naming who we really are. To a large extent, we are our names. The significance of a name was far from … Continue reading “Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Commentary by Elizabeth Webb”

Last week’s Old Testament reading featured God’s covenant with Noah and “all flesh.” This week’s reading looks at another iteration of covenant, this time God’s covenant with Abraham (who is called Abram until v.5). Throughout Genesis 17, “covenant” (Hebrew berit) serves as a Leitwort (“leading word” or “catchword”), appearing thirteen times in the chapter; that … Continue reading “Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Commentary by Cameron B.R. Howard”

The language found in the opening verse of the chapter shapes the reader’s perception of Abram. The reader is told that “the word of the LORD came to Abram.” Such language typically records the experience of prophets (Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1; Micah 1:1). Later in Genesis (20:7), Abram is in fact labeled a prophet by … Continue reading “Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Commentary by W. Dennis Tucker, Jr.”

Genesis 15 explores the significance of God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah about descendants and land. Their names are spelled Abram and Sarai until they are changed in Genesis 17, but we will use the traditional names throughout this study. In both stories in this chapter, the patriarch initially expresses doubt about God’s promise. The … Continue reading “Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Commentary by Ralph W. Klein”

Our lesson from the Old Testament is not the first occasion in Genesis where God speaks to Abram, but it is the first time that Abraham responds so that a back-and-forth exchange takes place. In every previous occasion, God had promised to give Abram progeny and land. What is the issue that, this time, brings … Continue reading “Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Commentary by William Yarchin”

In Genesis 1-11, the LORD struggled with all humanity to redeem a sinful and violent world. Beginning in Genesis 12, the LORD tried a new approach. God selected and focused on one unlikely family among all the families of humankind: the family of Abraham and Sarah. Abram (the name later changed to Abraham — Genesis … Continue reading “Genesis 15:1-6 Commentary by Dennis Olson”

The stars of a Serengeti night are enough to take your breath away. I had the privilege three years ago of going on safari in Tanzania. I had the privilege three years ago of going on safari in Tanzania. One of my most vivid memories of that trip is of staring into the sky with … Continue reading “Genesis 15:1-6 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

To understand the divine promises to Abraham here in Genesis 15, it is helpful to step back and look at what has been happening in Genesis up to this point. In Genesis 1-11 the “set” for God’s action is the whole world. All of creation (including but not limited to humanity) is declared good in … Continue reading “Genesis 15:1-6 Commentary by Jacqueline E. Lapsley”