In ancient times when a covenant was made between two individuals, they performed a ceremony cutting something in half and then placing the halves apart so they could walk between them. When they walked between them, they uttered the words “If I break this covenant may I be broken in half like these items”.
For a wedding ceremony where a covenant of faithfulness and commitment was given the bride and groom would cut a bowl in half and place them apart and walk between them.
Before it is cut, a bowl is a self-contained vessel designed to hold things for a single entity.
Cutting it in half destroys its original function as a solitary container. However, when two covenant partners each take one half, they hold matching pieces of a single whole. It symbolizes a transition from “independent containment” to a shared, interlocked destiny. You are no longer complete without the other half.
In other covenants animals were split in half and walked between.
The most serious covenant is found in Genesis 15. Here God is making a covenant to Abraham to make him the father of descendants greater than the stars in the heavens and to give him land to possess.
Abraham in verse 8 asks “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?” Abraham is asking God how can I believe that you are going to give me a son and all that land?
God responded with these words in verses 9-10. “The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half.”
God was telling Abraham to set up for the ceremony. God was getting ready to show to Abraham that He was serious about this covenant.
We read in verses 12-21 that before the ceremony could be accomplished by both parties, Abraham fell asleep. He awoke to see God passing between the animals in the form of a flaming torch.
God caused Abraham to fall asleep on purpose. God did this to show us the most important concept in the bible.
God alone passed through the severed pieces as a flaming torch. God effectively said, “If this covenant is broken—even by you—I will bear the penalty of being torn apart.”
A promise or covenant from God is 100% on Him and depended upon Him. You have no part in the promise. God was telling Abraham and is telling us today that our faithfulness and obedience has no bearing on the fulfillment of His promises.
God is faithful and true! He says that He will take the whole penalty for me breaking my side of the covenant.
That is LOVE!
Stop and let this sink in!
Abraham was credited with Righteousness because he believed. God fulfilled the covenant because Abraham believed in God, not because of anything Abraham did.
Jesus promised to prepare a home for me in eternity. He promised to come back and get me. My only part is to believe!
Abraham and Sarah were given the promise of a child. How long did they have to wait? Did they make mistakes along the way? Yes! But the fulfillment of the promise was not dependent upon them and their obedience. They just had to believe!
Jesus is coming back! In my lifetime? In 10,000 more years? It makes no difference when. I just need to believe in the promise and live like a believe the promise. I walk in the faith that God is true and faithful to His word.
I walk knowing that nothing I do or don’t do is going to affect God’s promise to send His Son to bring me home.
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” John 5:24 NLT
Even Death has no control over what God has promised. If I believe in God and His word, I have already passed from death into eternal life.
Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.
Prayers and Love for all.
Larry
