24 Aug Abraham Chops Animals in Half
The covenant that the Lord makes with Abraham in Genesis 15 is unusual because it is a one-sided covenant between two groups.
Like a contract, a covenant has two parties, both who give and receive in participation with the arrangement. Usually a greater party makes a covenant with a lesser party, and both have obligations and if one party fails to fulfil their obligations there are covenant consequences.
In ancient times the Hittites had a practice when making a covenant, of splitting animals in half as part of this covenant making process. Then the parties would walk through the middle of these animals, which in a kind of way stated that if they failed to keep their part in the deal, they would become like these animals.
So in Genesis 15 Abraham cuts up animals in half and arranges them. God seems to have no issue with using a cultural practice familiar int he day to make a point. The surprising thing isn’t that this happens, but what happens next.
Instead of there being stipulations placed on Abraham, and instead of him being asked to walk through the middle of the animals, neither happens. Instead it is the Lord who goes through the middle taking the responsibility for the entire covenant upon himself. He guarantees to Abraham that he will have a son, and that his descendants will inherit the land. And of course the Lord made sure that these things happened, and we know that to be the case.
So Genesis 15 is a surprising chapter because it shows how much love the Lord has for Abraham and his heart towards Him.
Do you then want to place yourself by faith in Christ, and in doing so, become the child of Abraham? Being in Christ, and in faith, and being the child of Abraham IS the place to be. A place of blessing.
A bigger discussion on this chapter can be found in this video:
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