Daily Lectionary | Genesis 15 and John 7:25-end
Genesis 15
Summary
The Lord has given his promise to Abram that he will make him a great nation in Genesis 12:1-3 and reiterated it in Genesis 13:16. Yet, Abram, this supposed great father, is fatherless. Abram has just rescued Lot from Chedorlaomer and must be fearful that his position is not safe. The Lord again gives his promise to Abram, that he will indeed have a son. The Lord tells Abram to consider the heavens and count the stars. He’s to learn from these heavenly signs about his descendants. In Genesis 1, the heavenly signs are appointed for “signs and for a season” (Gen. 1:14). Further, the great lights of the sky are given “to rule” day and night.” Importantly, the heavenly bodies in Scripture are associated with rule. Abram’s descendants will be not only numerous but somehow associated with rulers. Abram, despite the reality of his present circumstances, believed the Lord’s promise.
The Lord’s sign of his promise is a smoking pot and a flaming torch that passes through the divided sacrifices. The fiery presence of the Lord will later show up when in the pillar of cloud in the exodus. Importantly, only the Lord passes through pieces, not Abram. The Lord is swearing by himself that if he doesn’t keep his covenant may what happens to these animals happen to him (Hebrews 6:13-20).
Reflection Questions
- By associating Abram’s descendants with stars, what is the Lord implying?
- How does the Lord “seal” his promise to Abram?
John 7:25-end
Jesus is in Jerusalem at the last day of the Feast of Booths, one of the three required feast pilgrims was to make to Jerusalem (Lev. 23:39-43). As the rituals around the feast developed, water would be drawn from the pool of Siloam before being poured out before the altar in a bowl along with wine in a separate bowl (We hear echoes of Jesus’ first miracle here). The pouring out of water is associated with God’s provision of rain. Jesus seizes on this occasion of water being poured out to speak of the Holy Spirit being poured out: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” ( Jn 7:37).
The crowds continued to be confused regarding Jesus’ identity.
Reflection Questions
- Consider how Ezekiel 47 helps us understand the significance of living water flowing outward.
- Compare how the crowds consider who Jesus is vs. Jesus’s understanding of his self-identity.
- Where have we seen water to this point in John?