FEB 19
Genesis 15:1-21
Memorise Genesis 15:6
“behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces”

Although many things had happened since Abram left his home and journeyed to Canaan, there was still one major concern on his mind, and that was the issue of his heir. God had promised to make a great nation of him. Yet he must have been wondering, how was that possible if he had no son? He still did not have an heir, not a single descendant, not to mention a whole nation! Though he was assured that God was with him, nonetheless this issue must have weighed heavily in his heart.

Now, God had appeared to him once again to assure him. Abram’s instant response was to pursue the matter of an heir. Though God had told him not to fear, he was certainly worried about his childlessness. He therefore brought up Eliezer, thinking that perhaps he could adopt him as his heir. God then quashed all his concerns by assertively informing him that he certainly would have an heir from his own seed, and that his descendants would number as many as the stars in the sky. Abraham believed in this promise, and this showed the faith that he had in God. Yet he wanted a sort of proof and assurance that this would be so. God thus instructed Abram to prepare animals, cut them down the middle, and lay them in a row. This was an arrangement that Abram understood well, for it was the format for a standard Chaldean agreement – akin to us signing on a contract agreement. Normally, both parties would have to walk through the divided animals, whereby the cut animals symbolised the penalty that would be incurred should either one fail to meet the agreement of the covenant. However, in this instance, God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Abram, such that he would be unable to move. The Lord appeared unto Abram in a dream, and affirmed the promise of the covenant, also revealing further details about the future of the nation that would come forth from Abram. Then, Abram saw “a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces” (Genesis 15:17). This was God walking through the cut pieces of the animals, showing to Abram that He alone would be the one who would take responsibility and fulfil all of the agreement. This is therefore what a suzerainty covenant is – that a single party dictates the terms of the covenant, and he alone will honour it. This would have been greatly comforting to Abram, knowing that God has promised to take care of everything! All he needs to do is to walk by faith and trust in Him!

Thought: Is our promised salvation a suzerainty covenant?

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk by faith and believe in Thy promises.