Covenant promise

Covenant promise

Bible:Genesis 15:5-21

Reading

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking brazier with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces (V.17).

In the ancient Near East a covenant (a binding agreement) between a lord or king and his people was called a suzerain treaty. The ceremony required animals to be sacrificed and cut in half. The animal parts were then arranged in two rows on the ground, forming an aisle between them. As the king walked between the halves, he was publicly saying that if he did not keep the covenant, then he deserved to be killed like those animals. When Abraham (Abram) asked God how he could be sure His promises would come to pass, God used the suzerain treaty to confirm them (GENESIS 15). When the burning torch passed through the pieces of the sacrifice, Abraham understood that God was saying it was His job to keep the covenant. God’s covenant with Abraham also extends to those of us who trust Jesus. That is why Paul repeatedly calls Christians children of Abraham in his teaching (ROMANS 4:11-18; GALATIANS 3:29). Once we trust Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God becomes the one responsible for upholding His covenant promise to save us and keep us securely for heaven (SEE JOHN 10:28-29). Because God is the keeper of our salvation, we can confidently trust Him with our lives.

OUR SALVATION IS SECURE BECAUSE
JESUS DOES THE HOLDING.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries