September 4, 2020 (Friday)
In Genesis 15:1 God called Abram by name and promised to be his “shield” and “very great reward.” This occurred in a “vision” (dream). God does most of the talking in this interaction, but Abram manages two questions. Basically they are “how” (verse 2 - 3) and “how am I to know” (verse 8).
God then directs Abram into a mysterious covenant ceremony.
God doesn’t need ceremony, we do. Somehow the ceremonies either remind of us
God’s faithful work or they initiate something new. The church practices
communion and baptism as a common denominator. Communion (the Lords Supper,
Eucharist) reminds us of the blood new covenant Jesus established. Baptism represents the
changed life.
This ceremony resembles nothing we know, or practice. God
commanded Abram to bring a female calf, a female goat, a ram, a dove, and a
young pigeon (see Genesis 15:9). Abram then “splits” the animals in half,
except the birds (see Genesis 15:10). This attracted vultures, which Abram
needed to fight off (see Genesis 15:11). Finally, “After the sun set, Abram slept deeply. A
terrifying and deep darkness settled over him.” [Genesis 15:12 CEB]
What is the significance of the animals for sacrifice? I
will skip this because I want to cover this ritual in one day. The
splitting of the animals created a path between the halves, I’ll get back to
that soon. The attack by the vultures (birds that eat dead and rotting flesh), I think signifies a satanic attack (see Mark 4:15).
God speaks to him again and tells Abram about his
descendants. They would become immigrants and be oppressed as slaves for 400
years (see Genesis 15:13). God promised to punish the nation that used them as
slaves (see Genesis 15:14). Abram is promised long life (Genesis 15:15),
however the land was reserved for the Amorites until their sin has reached its
peak, or full measure, or is completed (as variously translated).
“After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a
smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses.” [Genesis 15:17 NLT] Some modern translations
muddle this by making it sound like they could have been together. However,
this ceremony required TWO participants. So, please understand them as
separate. Let me explain.
In this ceremony two parties would pass through the halved
pieces, meeting in the middle. They would continue to travel in an “oval eight”
pattern until each party reached the other side. Thus, they would exchange
places. Legally everything one has is now the property, status, or right of the
other. Get it?
The problem is Abram was asleep in a terrifying darkness
(sounds like death and sin). How is it possible for him to participate in such
a ritual? He can’t and he doesn’t. Even as an “inferior” party, he has no
ability or even right to make such an exchange. Abram needed a representative
to make the exchange. Get it?
For those who haven’t caught on yet, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to
be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through
Christ.” [2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT]
Get it? Jesus (God the Son) who never sinned, took our place BECAUSE we are
unable to make the transaction. Jesus “passed through the halves” on our
behalf. So now we have His righteousness, status, and standing before God (the
Father).
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