Over in Genesis 15:1 - The "these things" speaks of the events of the prior chapter - namely the capture and rescue of Lot and the citizens of Sodom by Abram, as well as the treatment of Abram by the King of Sodom and his treatment of Melchizedek.
The point here being that Lot, in his disobedience, was taken and needed rescuing. God did not protect him and his family. But, once that situation was resolved, God reassures Abram that, in his covenanted relationship with his God, he could rest assured that God would protect and be a shield to Che and his family as He had already promised.
We cannot pass Genesis 15:11 without noting that Abram spent the afternoon waiting for God's good pleasure and in keeping the birds of prey off of the offering set out in preparation for the later sacrifice. The obvious intent here is the offering stay undefiled in preparation for what was coming.
Further, in verse 2, note that the "great" (meaning 'profound') and 'Dreadful' (awe-inspiring or stimulating worship) FOLLOWS the fact that Abram fell deeply asleep. what I mean is that we are not talking about the fact Abram is merely having a frightening dream - it is something far more profound than that. The experience is one that is akin to Isaiah's when he saw the Lord in Isaiah 6. Here, like there, Abram is not seeing a Christophany, a "gentled" appearance of God as we frequently see in the OT. This is the Holy and fearsome God Whose very approach can strike terror into the heart of men.
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