When the sun had gone down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.
(Genesis 15:17-18)
Toward the end of last year, my lease was coming to an end, and I started searching for a new place to live. A couple of my friends had been working on an ADU on their property, so I asked my friend when it would be done. It was still a few months away from being finished, but she and I had agreed that I could move in when it was done. It wasn’t until February 1st that I actually signed the new lease. Our handshake agreement is now a legally binding contract.
If you recall, God promised the land of Canaan and generations of descendants to Abram in Genesis 12. This moment in Genesis 15 is when that promise became formal. In Abram’s time, this ritual of covenant-making was highly common. The process of gathering animals, cutting them in half, and passing between the pieces was a system he was familiar with. The important thing to note about this particular covenant is that Abram did not walk through the carcasses.
As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep. During that time, the presence of the Lord alone passed between the animals, sealing the covenant. What this tells us is that if either party were to fail to uphold their end, the negative consequences would fall solely on God. Better yet, even if Abram was unfaithful, the Lord would still deliver. The complete fulfillment of that promise would even outlive Abram. The act of this particular covenant removes any suspicion that God’s faithfulness is dependent on our participation. This was also proven in the time between the initial promise and the signed contract. At this time, Abram had offered up his wife to Pharaoh, separated from his nephew, and engaged in war. The Lord’s faithfulness would continue to be proven after Abram and Sarai took certain matters into their own hands in Genesis 16.
The formal agreement between the Lord and Abram was not for God’s sake; it was for Abram’s. The promise was not contingent on his performance. All Abram could do was receive it.
Lift up your eyes, receive the promise.
Kassie Lowe
Young Adults Lead