When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
Genesis 15:17–18 (ESV)
The word covenant is one of the most important words in the Bible. Our God is a God of covenants. We have already seen Him make a covenant with Noah and the whole human race to never destroy the earth again by flood. This is the third statement of God’s covenant with Abram. He will continue to affirm this covenant not only with Abram but also with Isaac, Jacob, and all their descendants.
This gory covenant ritual was not unfamiliar to Abram. Historians indicate that this form was sometimes used by these ancient people when making a covenant. Some even used it in confirming a marriage covenant as both fathers would walk the blood path to show their intent that the union is a lifetime commitment, for not only the bride and groom but also for both families. This symbolic action was to say, “if I violate this covenant this is what you can do to me.”
Normally in cutting a covenant both parties would walk the blood path. But here in the covenant that God makes with Abram, only God walks the path as indicated by the smoking fire pot and flaming torch moving between the pieces. God is taking upon himself the responsibility for seeing to it that the covenant is fulfilled. Abraham has only to believe God. As the Bible unfolds the history of God’s covenant with His people, the descendants of Abraham and Sarah, the covenant of their inheritance of the land stands. Even after He expelled them when Rome destroyed Jerusalem, in 1948 He began to return them to the land. But the covenant is most often repeated with Israel as God declares that it is His great desire and purpose that He will be their God and they will be His people.
Considering the rebellion of Israel through the ages and God’s judgment upon them, how would He fulfill the covenant? This is why He sent Jesus into the world. His death on the cross was God’s way of walking the blood path for the redemption of the descendants of Abraham, and all who would live by faith as did this highly favored man. At the cross Jesus fulfilled the covenant God made with Abram and at the same time instituted a new covenant, one where our sins would be forgiven and we could become the people of God along with believing Israelites, ultimately to live in eternal fellowship with our God.
Abraham was not saved because he did good things, he was saved because he believed God. His obedience was evidence of that faith.
My Prayer For You Today
is that you will believe God. The world would offer deceptive words, but the Word of God is truth.
He walked the blood path for you.