God told Abram to do something that sounds very odd to us. But it would have made sense to Abram. In Abram’s day when two men wanted to make a promise about something, they would make a covenant. They would take some animals and cut them in two, laying each half opposite the other half to form a path through the middle.Then they would both walk through the middle of the animals and they would say, “We will do all that we have promised today. But if one of us breaks our promise, let us be cut in half like these animals.” They both had to keep their promises. These promises could not be broken.

Abram did as the Lord said; he cut the animals in two and made a path between the two halves. But what then? Could sinful Abram walk between the animals with holy God? On no he could not. There is no way that he could keep all his promises like God would keep his.

As Abram waited for God to tell him what to do and looked at the animals he had cut, he would have known that they showed that God would keep his side of the covenant, and that he would give the land to Abram’s children and grandchildren.

When night came, Abram saw a burning torch go between the animals. This torch was God himself. God walked between the animals. God made the covenant and promised to keep it. God could do this because he is almighty God. He will always keep his promises. As God his promises never fail.

But Abram could not walk through the animals, because no person can walk with God to seal the covenant promises. God will keep his promises even though Abram could not keep his. Whatever happens, God will always keep his promises.

And God has made a covenant with us as well. We are his covenant children and so he will also keep all of his promises to us as well. Let us always trust God!

Reflection with your child:

Why did God (as a burning torch) walk between the dead animals?

Source: Sermon by Rev. S. ‘t Hart