PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Genesis 15-16
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“A smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.” (Genesis 15:17)
In the ancient near east, a covenant signified the seriousness of the vows made.
Animals were cut in half, and covenant-makers walked between them, through the blood.
In this way, they declared, ‘may I be cut in half (die) if I do not keep my promises!’
But notice here that Abram does not walk between the pieces… the ‘firepot’ is God.
The message is that God is passing through the pieces, this is God’s covenant promise.
Most covenants are two-way covenants, with promises on both sides, but not this one!
God commits to suffering and dying if the covenant does not work.
God is not the covenant-breaker, we are… but God promises to die.
Abraham shows his lack of covenant trust through his scheme with Hagar and Ishmael.
God does not abandon Abraham, nor does he abandon Hagar and Ishmael – God sees us all!
Through Jesus he keeps his promise and dies for all of Abraham’s children, all humanity!
Jesus is condemned, his blood is shed, and sin is punished – our sin!
The basis of our relationship with God is not our faithfulness but God’s.
Even if I blow it, God has us covered; God passes through death so I don’t have to.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you that my hope does not lie in my being right, because I can’t. Thank you for passing through death for me, that I might live with you!
God made promises (covenants) with Abram and changed his name to Abraham and he made a promise to Hagar in regards to Ishmael. God came through. He gives Abraham and insight as to what would happen – that God would build a nation through his descendants and that they would be slaves for 400 years and then God would punish the nation that enslaves them. This prophecy must have been communicated to Isaac and then onto Jacob and so on. They must have known in Egypt or at least someone knew. Yet those in the moment don’t realize it. I suppose we can be so busy living that we don’t realize what God is doing – how time is progressing and that the day of Jesus return approaches even as we each approach the day of our departure. Reading the history in the Bible helps us see how God continues to faithfully carry out His promises! Jesus came – Thanks be to God!
God promises and makes those promises come true. He brings the promises to fruition. I make promises and try to make those promises come true but fail at keeping the promises. I need God to help me. I need to stand on the promises of God and that He continues to be my Guardian and Guide as He has promised through His Son. I just need to be strong and courageous and trust the Lord God in all things. He will complete what He has promised. Just trust and obey.
1 Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
3 Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
4 Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]