There is a story in Genesis 15 1-21 in the Bible where God is establishing the Abrahamic covenant, a covenant ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. It is a story of the first Blood Sacrifice Covenant in the Bible. Let’s back up just a bit to really set this scene up correctly.
Back in Chapter 12 of Genesis, God made some promises to Abram (before his name was changed to Abraham). God told him that He would make Abram a great nation, that He would bless him and make his name great; that Abram would be a blessing and that God had his back. At this point Abram was 75 years old, still no children of his own.
Fast forward to vs 7 of Chapter 12 and the Lord told Abram “To your descendants I will give this land.”. Wait…Abram is already 75 with no kids, where are these descendants going to come from? That had to have crossed Abram’s mind at some point, and as we see in the unfolding story, Abram finally asked God the question in Chapter 15 vs 2.
But again, God reminded him of his earlier promise. He tells him in vs 4-5 of Chapter 15 that Abram would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky! Once again, Abram believed God but still had questions. In vs 8 Abram asked, “how will I know that I will inherit this land”. It was at this moment that the love of a Father always wanting to reassure His children gave Abram some instructions.
God had Abram go get specific animals at a specific age and told him to cut them in two. Abram did it without question and even drove the vultures away from the carcasses while waiting for his next instructions from God. You see, in this covenant ceremony, the covenant parties would pass between the halves, indicating that they were irrevocably bound together in blood. In this instance though, only God passed between the pieces indicating that it was His covenant, and He would assume responsibility for it to come to pass.
There is something I want to highlight in this. Did you catch the part about Abram driving away the vultures while he was waiting on God’s next instructions? When God gives you a promise, there will always be vultures circling to destroy that promise (in Texas we called them Buzzards). Are you willing to stand on the promises God gave you and protect your promise? Are you willing to protect your blessing from the buzzards? I don’t think it is an accident that the specific details of Abram driving away the buzzards was noted here.
You see it’s ok to ask the questions! Just like Abram did – he wanted to know without a shadow of a doubt! But God in all His loving-kindness, went the extra mile, as He always does with us, and said “Ok Abram, I’m going to show you just how serious I am. I’m going to make a covenant with you on this”.
Personally, I imagine that when God told Abram to get the specific animals, etc. that Abram had to have known that something big was getting ready to happen as sacrificing animals always meant something.
The other important thing to note from this is Abram’s obedience and trust. When God told him what to do with the animals, he didn’t stand and argue or complain that he was 75 years old and you’ve got me out here hunting and trying to catch birds? Seriously God? Nope, Abram went and did it, then He waited for his next instructions. This is kingdom living! Stand on His promises, do what He asks us to do and wait for our next instructions.
How many times have you gotten discouraged at a promise that “feels” like it’s been years, and maybe it really has been years and you are wearing thin on believing God for that promise? Beloved, don’t grow weary! Stand ready to protect it at all costs knowing that He is a good Father that is faithful to His word. Even when the buzzards are circling, drive them away and wait on the Lord!
As we know from the story of Abram, Abram’s blessings were just around the corner and so are yours!!!
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