JANUARY 14

Genesis 15 describes a ceremony commonly used in the ancient world to formalize a covenant. The custom was that both parties making the covenant would walk together between the pieces of slain animals (Jeremiah 34:18-19). This custom confirmed that the terms of the covenant were mandatory on both parties. If one party violated any part of the covenant, it would free the other party from the necessity of fulfilling his promises.

But this ceremony, which occurred between God and Abraham to confirm the covenant, was different in one very important aspect:

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram…and it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram.  (Genesis 15:12, 17-18)

Abraham and God did not walk together between the slain animals, as was the custom. God put Abraham in a deep sleep and God alone–in the form of a smoking oven and a flaming torch–walked between the pieces of the sacrifice. This meant that the fulfillment of the covenant was based solely upon God’s grace, regardless of response of Abraham or his descendants.

Abraham could not be responsible for the covenant, but could only be a recipient of it. He might fail, but the covenant would remain intact. God would never fail, for He promised, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips” (Psalms 89:34).

You are a recipient of this powerful covenant with all of its promised benefits. It is passed on to you as the spiritual seed of Abraham. No matter how weak you think you are spiritually, the covenant promises are not dependent upon you. You are only a recipient. The fulfillment is based solely upon God’s grace and His faithfulness.

You are a spiritual heir of every blessing of the Abrahamic covenant. The words “bless” and “blessing” are used repeatedly in these promises. The root word is barak and means “to confer abundant life and to endue with power for success, prosperity, and long life”.

God’s covenant with you is confirmed in His Word. If you have failed in the past, the covenant remains intact. The promises are not dependent upon you. They exist independently of you, but only through your obedience will they be manifested in your life.