Genesis 15: 7 Then He said to him, “I am the Lord,
who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this
land to inherit it.”
8 And
he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”
9 So
He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female
goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then
he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and
placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in
two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the
carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 Now
when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold,
horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then
He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers
in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them,
and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And
also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall
come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for
you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be
buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth
generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not
yet complete.”
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GOD reiterate HIS
promise to Abram, telling him that HE was going to give his ancestors the land.
Abram asked a wise question ““Lord God, how shall I know that I will
inherit it?”
My Observations
- GOD told Abram to bring HIM animals that were considered mature.
- GOD told Abram to bring different species of animals, which means they were symbols rather than food or clothing.
- GOD told Abram about the future of his descendants and his future.
This was the first
time GOD mentioned sacrificing animals. Abram did not question the strange
request, rather obeyed immediately, killed the animals, and waited. GOD
carefully chose these animals, possibly to show the laws that would follow
during the freeing of the people who would become captives. GOD being three in
one, may also have meaning here.
Cows would
eventually be sacrificed for purity. A scapegoat would be released into the wilderness,
representing the release of sins. The dove and pigeons would become sacrifices
for the poor. All of these sacrifices would point to the ultimate sacrifice,
namely JESUS.
When nighttime hit,
Abram fell into a deep sleep, possibly a supernatural sleep. He saw disturbing
images that needed explanation. GOD explained Abram’s descendant’s future. Noah’s
curse on Canaan led Canaan to rebel and create a movement against GOD. Egypt
would enslave GOD’s people. GOD would release them and require sacrifices for
sin. Abram’s future seemed bleak, BUT GOD gave him assurance.
Challenge
- Why do you think GOD went into elaborate detail concerning Abram’s future to Moses?
- If you knew about your present situation, years ago, would you praise GOD or be more faithful?
- Can you remain faithful in the present, knowing GOD has a plan to prosper you?
