Genesis 15:1-21 God’s Covenant with Abram (Romans 4:1-12; Galatians 3:1-9; Hebrews 11:8-19; James 2:14-26)
“After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
God Confirms His Promise (Numbers 34:1-15; Romans 4:13-25)
But Abram replied, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?” And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”
So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut. And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own; they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
It is only after Abram has rescued Lot and has successfully passed the test of greed by refusing loot and giving one tenth to Melchizedek that God now gives him more specific promises.
We throw around the phrase “cutting covenant without having the slightest idea of its origin. Here we have a clear illustration, and the actual meaning is shocking.
In this age when even written agreements can be broken or ignored, we forget that at one time, blood covenants were employed, Those engaging in the covenant would slaughter several animals and split them, then they would walk around and between the half-carcasses, proclaiming that if they broke the covenant, the other party was free to slaughter them and to split their body just as they had split the bodies of the animals. While walking in this fashion, those cutting covenant would stain the hems of their garments with the blood of the slaughtered animals. Abram knows the value of cutting covenant. In addition, while Abram supplies the animals, it is God who walks between the halves of the carcasses. The Ruler of the Universe is pledging His honor to fulfill all the promises He is making to Abram, promises to make this barren man a great nation and to give his descendants the land over which Abram has walked.
Notice something else: Abram will live to a good age and then die in peace and be buried in this land; however, his descendants will leave this land and then return in the fourth generation, “for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Amorites? The three men who joined forces with Abram to rescue Lot and the other captives were all Amorites. Evidently, at this time, there are virtuous men among the Amorites; however, God knows that this tribe is set to degenerate morally, as are the other tribes He mentions. Here we see an example of God’s timing. Many times we are impatient, demanding that things should happen instantly. But God is the One who orchestrates the seasons, the phases of the moon, the tides, and even the rhythms our bodies follow. Only God knows that there are still righteous Amorites at this time; therefore, the time is not yet right for Abram’s descendants to return to possess the land.
There are so many different lessons that we can learn from this passage. Today we want to concentrate on agreeing with the Lord and trusting His timing to gain peace. Psalm 37:7 tells us, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” God cuts covenant with Abram to graphically demonstrate His commitment to fulfilling His promises. Abram needs that reassurance.
Perhaps God is telling you to do something incredibly difficult and you are sure you must have misunderstood. You can ask God to give you a sign, something only He can do, but don’t limit Him. When God shows up, He always does more than we have anticipated.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, You are the One who leads us on incredible journeys of faith. Help all those whom You are calling to do the impossible to trust that You are the One who will accomplish it. And give them peace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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