Genesis 15-17
There is an awful lot of “cutting” in these chapters.
After God promised Abram offspring as numerous as the stars, we read the famous words: “And Abram (Abraham) believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) And immediately God instructs him to cut a heifer, a goat and a ram in half! A little later, after Abram fell asleep, God spoke to him of the future and allowed him (while still sleeping, I suppose) to watch God, in the form of a “smoking fire pot and flaming torch,” pass between the pieces of animals he had cut!
Two chapters later (17), the LORD appears yet again to Abram and instructs him to cut himself, his son, Ishmael, and all the male members of his household in a very uncomfortable and private place.
What is all this “cutting?”
“Cutting” is part of the root meaning of the word, Covenant. When we use the word, we are normally thinking of an agreement—if two parties are involved, or a promise—if just one is involved. Chapters 15 and 17 are the chapters where God’s covenant is “cut” with Abraham and his descendants. In Chapter 15, God promises Abram offspring, and then backs it up by passing between the pieces of animals Abram cut. In ancient culture, both parties would pass between the pieces, saying, in effect: “May we become like these animals, if we do not keep our covenant!”
In Chapter 17, God commands Abraham to “cut” some more, only this time, the “cutting” will hurt him. Circumcision is called “a sign of the covenant” because it gave Abraham a chance to agree with God’s promise!
If we chose to name ourselves Covenant United Methodist Church, it would remind us that there is pain in the keeping and the cutting of God’s promises.
Until tomorrow,
Pastor Gary
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