Covenant – Boyace Van Harlan Jr., PhD
KJV Genesis 15:8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
KJV Genesis 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
In the times of Abraham, when a covenant was made, a certain animal was brought. It was killed by cutting it into. You then faced your covenant partner and walked toward each other between the two pieces of the animal, passing each other in the center. This symbolized that both parties were obligated to protect and provide for each other. Whatever belonged to you belonged to your partner. Of course the one who benefited the most was the poorer party. In Genesis 15:8 Abram asks God for a sign, a token, to encourage or build his faith in the promise. Abram desires a sign: Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? v. 8. This did not proceed from distrust of God’s power or promise, as that of Zacharias; but he desired this, 1. For the strengthening and confirming of his own faith; he believed (v. 6), but here he prays, Lord, help me against my unbelief. Now he believed, but he desired a sign to be treasured up against an hour of temptation, not knowing how his faith might, by some event or other, be shocked and tried. Note, We all need, and should desire, helps from heaven for the confirming of our faith, and should improve sacraments, which are instituted signs, for that purpose. See Jdg. 6:36-40; 2 Ki. 20:8-10; Isa. 7:11,12. 2. For the ratifying of the promise to his posterity, that they also might be brought to believe it. Note, Those that are satisfied themselves should desire that others also may be satisfied of the truth of God’s promises. John sent his disciples to Christ, not so much for his own satisfaction as for theirs, Mt. 11:2, 3.Canaan was a type of heaven. Note, It is a very desirable thing to know that we shall inherit the heavenly Canaan, that is, to be confirmed in our belief of the truth of that happiness, and to have the evidences of our title to it more and more cleared up to us.
III. God directs Abram to make preparations for a sacrifice, intending by that to give him a sign, and Abram makes preparation accordingly (v. 9-11): Take me a heifer, etc. Perhaps Abram expected some extraordinary sign from heaven; but God gives him a sign upon a sacrifice. Note, Those that would receive the assurances of God’s favour, and would have their faith confirmed, must attend instituted ordinances, and expect to meet with God in them. Observe, 1. God appointed that each of the beasts used for this service should be three years old, because then they were at their full growth and strength: God must be served with the best we have, for he is the best. 2. We do not read that God gave Abram particular directions how to manage these beasts and fowls, knowing that he was so well versed in the law and custom of sacrifices that he needed not any particular directions; or perhaps instructions were given him, which he carefully observed, thought they are not recorded: at least it was intimated to him that they must be prepared for the solemnity of ratifying a covenant; and he well knew the manner of preparing them. 3. Abram took as God appointed him, though as yet he knew not how these things should become a sign to him. This was not the first instance of Abram’s implicit obedience. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, Jer. 34:18, 19, where it is said, They cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts. 4. Abram, having prepared according to God’s appointment, now set himself to wait for the sign God might give him by these, like the prophet upon his watch-tower, Hab. 2:1. While God’s appearing to own his sacrifice was deferred, Abram continued waiting, and his expectations were raised by the delay; when the fowls came down upon the carcasses to prey upon them, as common and neglected things, Abram drove them away (v. 11), believing that the vision would, at the end, speak, and not lie. Note, A very watchful eye must be kept upon our spiritual sacrifices, that nothing be suffered to prey upon them and render them unfit for God’s acceptance. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and not suffer them to lodge within us, but attend on God without distraction.
Geneva Bible Notes:
Gen 15:8 And he said, Lord GOD, (1) whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
(1) This is a particular motion of God’s Spirit, which is not lawful for all to follow, in asking signs: but was permitted for some by a peculiar motion, as to Gideon and Ezekiel.
As God made his covenant with Abram, so has he made his covenant with us? In the book of Galatians the Word of God tells us if we be Christ’s then we are Abraham’s seed! Beloved you may ask yourself. How can this thing be? How shall I inherit it? The answer is the same as the angel Gabriel stated to Mary. “With God nothing is impossible!”
Image via Wikipedia
Related articles
- God is my shield (wordsofeternallife.org)
- Contending for the New (deanbriggs.com)
- Hagar, Ishmael, And God’s Promise To Abraham Genesis 15 – Genesis 17 (brakeman1.wordpress.com)
- What About God’s Covenant (verticalviewer.wordpress.com)
- Laughter and the New Covenant (shaynemasonvincent.wordpress.com)
