Events earlier in the chapter serve as an important backdrop to this study. In the previous 14 verses, God introduced circumcision as a symbol that marked the people of God. Circumcision marked a ratification of the covenant that God established. God also changed Abram's name to "Abraham", meaning "father of many nations", in line with the covenantal promise that He is making.

The passage brought out the failings of the characters mentioned. The flaws of Sarai, Hagar her maidservant and Abram were clear in these 16 verses.

This chapter flows from the events of the previous chapter, evident from the phrase "after these things". It refers to events in chapter 14, which was a high point in Abram’s life and also in a chapter before that, Egypt was a low point in his life. At the start of chapter 15, the word of the Lord came to him in a vision.

In the previous study, we learnt of how God called one man, Abram, and established a covenant with him. In the rest of chapter 12 and 13, we learn more about this man that God chose. What kind of a man do you think he is?

Gen 12-50 shows us how God keeps His promise to restore the world broken after Gen 3. In this next section of Genesis, we start off with the life of one man, and see how God works through Him and His family to achieve His purposes.