Verse 6th. “And he believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness.”
That, on the whole, is the primary verse of the entire Bible. If that is true, the rest is worth whatever Heaven is worth; if that is untrue, the rest is worth nothing. You had better, therefore, if you can, learn it also in Greek and Latin.
“Καὶ ἐπίστευσεν Ἀβραμ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην. [[147]]
“Credidit Abram Deo, et reputatum est illo in justitiam.”
If, then, that text be true, it will follow that you also, if you would have righteousness counted to you, must believe God. And you can’t believe Him if He never says anything to you. Whereupon it will be desirable again to consider if He ever has said anything to you; and if not, why not.
After this verse, I don’t understand much of the chapter myself—but I never expect to understand everything in the Bible, or even more than a little; and will make what I can of it.
Verses 7th, 8th. “And He said, I the Lord brought thee, to give thee this land, to inherit it.
“But he said, Lord, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?”
Now, I don’t see how he could know it better than by being told so; nor how he knew it any better, after seeing a lamp moving between half-carcases. But we will at least learn, as well as we can, what happened; and think it over.
The star-lesson was of course given in the night; and, in the morning, Abram slays the five creatures, and watches their bodies all day.