In Genesis 15, we see God making a covenant with Abraham (who in this scripture was known as Abram - as this was before God changed his name). A covenant is hard for us to truly understand in our Western culture. In ancient times a covenant was known as a blood covenant, which was a binding agreement, where a blood sacrifice sealed the deal. It was more powerful than a contract or agreement, as it was to last the life span of those making it. Therefore, it was considered holy and sacred. To break the covenant meant death to the person breaking it.
God had promised Abraham a son, descendants that would be as hard to count as the stars in the sky, a heritage, a land and a nation, wealth, and peace. At this point, Abraham and his wife were already old and therefore had no natural promise of children. Plus, Sarah was barren. However, God does not operate in the natural and nothing is too hard for Him, not even barrenness nor the old age of this couple.
The interesting thing here is God Himself is making the covenant with Abraham. He instructs Abraham to cut the covenant with 5 specific animals. However, we will focus on the significance of this binding agreement, rather than the gruesome details of it. Night falls and Abraham falls asleep.
17 When the sun had gone down and it was very dark, a fire pot of smoke and a burning fire passed between these parts of animals. 18 The Lord made an agreement with Abram on that day. He said, “I have given this land to your children and to their children’s children, from the river of Egypt as far as the big Euphrates River.
God was the One that walked through the blood of the sacrifice. He did not ask Abraham to walk through the blood. This is VERY interesting, because normally, both members of the covenant were required to do so. But God did not require this of Abraham. I just LOVE this about God!
God created us with free will. So, it was up to Abraham to choose daily to be obedient to God. This is all God asked of him - his obedience. God did the dirty work and the part that required someone's life to be on the line. His life was on the line, if He broke this covenant with Abraham.
Oh, but wait...He's God, and He can't die. He also can't lie. So, this meant He WOULD DO what He said He would do. He just promised it in a way that Abraham understood. Covenants were very much a part of Abraham's culture, so he got what God was putting down. God was speaking his language.
God was declaring to Abraham that in no way, shape, or form would He ever go back on His word. All God required from Abraham was his obedience and love. God did the rest. It's the same with us today, because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
God says I declare and promise this, this, and this to you. All you have to do is love and obey me. Two scriptures come to mind here. Proverbs 3:5-6 and Luke 10:25-28 (NIV).
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heartand
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
The amazing thing here is God even gives us the grace to love Him and others. He gives us a clean heart and a renewed mind. He gives us His ability to love, as He loves. He also gives us His compassion for others. So, what's left? Submission or obedience to Him. God is a Gentleman and He will not force us to obey Him. He does not want robots, but men and women who choose Him freely. He does the rest.
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