Readings for today: Genesis 13:5-15:21, Matthew 5:27-48, Psalms 6, Proverbs 1:29-33
Getting a late start today. Might be a pattern on Sundays so let me apologize in advance. Today’s reading includes one of the most profound scenes in all of Scripture. God has made a promise to Abram. He will have a son. Even in his old age. His family would eventually grow so numerous, they would outnumber the stars in the sky. This is heady stuff for an octogenarian ancient near east patriarch with no children of his own. But Abram believes God. He is fully confident God is able to do what He has promised. And because Abram has faith, it is credited to him as righteousness.
God, however, isn’t done. He seals His covenant with an elaborate ritual. Abram is to get a heifer, goat, ram, turtledove and pigeon. He cuts them in half - except for the birds - and lays them opposite each other in a line. This creates an aisle of sorts down the center. The vultures swoop in, attracted by all the blood, but Abram drives them off. Eventually the sun sets and Abram falls asleep. In the darkness, this marvelous thing takes place. A smoking firepot and flaming torch pass through the pieces. God manifesting Himself as light in the darkness. He comes to Abram who remains asleep, essentially sealing His promise with an oath. If God were to ever break covenant with Abram, He would become like the pieces of the animals on the ground. If God were to ever fail to uphold his covenant, He would have to die.
This is remarkable for several reasons. First of all, in the ancient near east it is always the lesser party who walks through the pieces. It is Abram who should be putting his life on the line. Second, this covenant ceremony is completely one-sided. Abram is asleep! No matter what Abram does, God is binding Himself to him and his descendants forever. Third, by choosing to walk through the pieces, God essentially is telling Abram He will cease to exist should any of His promises fail. This is a foreshadowing of what will take place on the Cross where God does indeed make Himself like the animals on the ground. His body broken. His blood shed. All for you. All for me. There literally is no story like this in any other religion on earth. No other religious faith believes in a God who is so radically faithful. This is what sets our God apart. And we love Him for it.
Fast forward a few thousand years. The Apostle Paul is preaching the gospel all over the Mediterranean. Gentiles are coming to faith in huge numbers and he’s trying to process the fact that the Holy Spirit is being poured out on non-Jews. He turns back to this story. He realizes that the children God promises to Abram are not just flesh and blood but children by faith. Abram’s descendants do indeed outnumber the starts in the sky because literally billions of people down throughout history have placed their faith in the God of Abram who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.
Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 16-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalms 7, Proverbs 2:1-5