God cuts a covenant S1e80 Gen15:17
He cuts himself
Walking through Genesis one 7 minute thought segment at a time
Truths. Little Truths. Beauty of coming back tomorrow. Faithful exposition. Faithful Exposure. Why?
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”…
Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Brought Heifer, goat, ram, turtledove, pigeon cut
Gen 15:17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 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, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”
God’s presence manifests visually, as a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch. Sun down. Dark. Flaming torch. Smoking pot. Must have been impressive.
Maybe why everybody likes a campfire; Everybody likes a bonfire
God’s presence is often associated with fire
Ex 13: 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
Sometimes the Lord goes before His person with fire
Sometimes the Lord goes before His People with fire
Violence of this covenant. Go between the halves of the hunks of the body
Land: 1 Kg 4 21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
Promise came true 1000+ years down road
Promise is coming true—in His faithfulness to us little Abrams
Covenant: A covenant formally binds two parties together in a relationship, on the basis of mutual personal commitment, with consequences for keeping or breaking the commitment. God makes this kind of covenant with a group of people by covenanting with one who represents themCut a covenant”—so do to me if this covenant is violated
Let’s be clear: here is the penalty of violation of this covenant
Keep this promise or else
This penalty, cut you in half, is due. Death, blood, life due
Later, theologically we will ask: what will you do about your sin
You are mine. I am yours. We are in this together.
If you break covenant, who will pay your penalty
Who will pay the penalty that is due YOU?
Unconditional promise that He will give land and of Himself
Ties previous promises to OFFSPRING promises to AB.
God binding Himself to people. Commitment unto death.
This is the gospel in carcasses******
God knows the future. He knows the breach. He knows that HE will provide the cut; destroyed; killed; sacrificed Son as payment.
Somebody is going to break fellowship with me in sin
Sounds like you,
God turns toward mankind. Commits to mankind.
God had a chance to get out of this dance with humanity at GARDEN
But turned toward Adam and Eve in cool of Day
God knows exactly what His commitment to Adam Eve is going to cost
God had a chance to get out of the people business w FLOOD
But turned toward NOAH and Family knowing the Cost
God knows exactly what His commitment to Abram is going to cost
God has a chance to not promise everything;
Not to promise of Himself. Not to promise His perfect faithful relationship
not promise unto death, specifically the death that would be required of Son
God knows exactly what His commitment to Abram is going to cost
Abram makes covenant. God makes covenant. I am giving you of myself: and land, and offspring*****
High cost covenant.******
HIGHEST God takes the cut to be in relationship with us
VALUED, This is how much He values being in relationship with you
Seen, Understood, pursued
When God cuts a covenant He cuts HIMSELF