What Fear Did Abram Express to God in Genesis 15?
Genesis 15 marks a turning point in Abram’s walk with God—a moment of deep honesty, personal vulnerability, and divine reassurance. After the triumph of rescuing Lot and rejecting the wealth of the king of Sodom, Abram appears outwardly strong. Yet in his private dialogue with God, Scripture reveals an inner fear that weighs heavily on his heart.
This fear centers on one major issue: the promise of offspring that had not yet been fulfilled.
1. The Context of Abram’s Fear
Before Genesis 15, God had already promised Abram:
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A great nation (Genesis 12:2)
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Descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16)
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A land that his offspring would inherit (Genesis 12:7)
Yet years had passed since Abram left Haran, and Sarai remained barren. Despite victories and blessings, Abram felt the growing weight of waiting, uncertainty, and the apparent contradiction between God’s promise and his own circumstances.
Thus, when God tells Abram, “Fear not, Abram; I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1), He is responding to a fear that was already present in Abram’s heart.
2. The Fear Abram Expressed: Dying Without a Child
Abram’s fear becomes explicit in Genesis 15:2–3:
“O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I remain childless?
… The heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.”
Abram feared that:
1. He would die childless.
God had promised him an heir, yet he saw no possibility of one through Sarai. Childlessness in the ancient world brought:
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Social shame
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Economic insecurity
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No family line
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No fulfillment of personal or divine legacy
Abram believed time was running out.
2. His inheritance would go to a servant.
Abram explains:
“You have given me no offspring; indeed, one born in my house is my heir.”
This refers to Eliezer, a trusted servant but not a biological son. Adopted heirs were common in patriarchal culture, but Abram knew this was not what God had promised.
3. God’s promise might fail due to his circumstances.
Abram wasn’t doubting God’s power—he was confused about God’s method. How could he become a great nation with no child? His fear was not rebellion; it was a request for clarity and reassurance.
3. The Deeper Layers of Abram’s Fear
Abram’s fear was not simply about having a child. It reflected deeper human concerns:
A. Fear of the Future
He worried about what would happen after his death. Without an heir, his future—and God’s promise—seemed uncertain.
B. Fear of Unfulfilled Promises
He struggled with the tension between promise and delay. God had spoken clearly, but His timing remained hidden.
C. Fear of Misunderstanding God’s Plan
Abram wondered if he was misinterpreting God’s intent. Maybe God meant he should adopt Eliezer? Perhaps he had misunderstood the promise altogether.
God’s response shows that Abram’s fear was real but not sinful—He welcomes Abram’s honest questions.
4. How God Addressed Abram’s Fear
God answered Abram with overwhelming reassurance (Genesis 15:4–5):
1. God clarified the promise.
“This man shall not be your heir; but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
God gently corrected Abram’s misunderstanding and reaffirmed the promise in clear terms.
2. God expanded the promise.
He took Abram outside and said:
“Look now toward heaven, and count the stars…
So shall your offspring be.”
This imagery turned Abram’s fear into faith by showing the vastness of God’s plan.
3. God credited Abram’s faith as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6 marks one of the most significant declarations in Scripture:
“And he believed the LORD; and He credited it to him as righteousness.”
Abram moved from fear to trust—and God honored that trust.
4. God confirmed His promise with a covenant.
The rest of Genesis 15 contains a solemn covenant ceremony, where God, not Abram, passed between the pieces of the sacrificed animals. This signified that:
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The covenant depended on God alone
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God took full responsibility for fulfilling the promise
God met Abram’s fear with assurance, clarity, and a binding oath.
5. The Significance of Abram’s Fear Today
Abram’s fear speaks to the heart of every believer who struggles with waiting or uncertainty. His experience teaches that:
1. It is acceptable to bring honest fears to God.
Abram questioned God reverently and sincerely—and God responded with grace.
2. Delays do not mean denial.
God’s timeline is perfect, even when we cannot see the outcome.
3. Faith grows when tested.
Abram’s fear became the backdrop for a deeper revelation of God’s faithfulness.
4. God’s promises stand despite human weakness.
Abram’s fear did not cancel God’s plan; instead, it opened the door for a covenant of overwhelming reassurance.
Conclusion
The fear Abram expressed in Genesis 15 was the fear of dying without a child, leaving God’s promise apparently unfulfilled. He feared that his servant Eliezer would become his heir instead of a son of his own body. Yet this moment of honest questioning became one of the greatest turning points in biblical history. God met Abram’s fear with the promise of countless descendants, an eternal covenant, and a declaration of righteousness based on faith.
Abram’s fears remind us that even the greatest heroes of faith wrestle with uncertainty—but the God who made the promises is faithful to keep them.