MAY 9, 2014
Promises
Still Kept
Read: Genesis
15:5-21
When the sun went down . . . there appeared a smoking oven and a
burning torch that passed between those pieces. —Genesis
15:17
In the ancient Near
East a treaty between a superior (a lord or king) and an inferior (his
subjects) was called a suzerain treaty. The ratification 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 suzerain
walked between the halves, he was publicly declaring he would keep the covenant
and would become like the slain animals if he failed to keep his word.
When Abram asked God
how he could be sure His promises would come to pass, God used the culturally
significant symbolism of the suzerain treaty to affirm His promises (Gen. 15).
When the burning torch passed through the pieces of the sacrifice, Abram
understood that God was declaring it was His job to keep the covenant.
God’s covenant with
Abram and His assurance of its completion extends to followers of Christ. That
is why Paul repeatedly refers to believers as sons of Abraham in his New
Testament writings (Rom. 4:11-18; Gal. 3:29). Once we accept Jesus Christ as
Savior, God becomes the keeper in our covenant of faith (see John 10:28-29).
Because God is the keeper of our salvation,
with renewed confidence in Him we trust Him with our lives.
He will never fail us, He will not forsake;
His eternal covenant He will never break.
Onward then, and fear not, children of the
day;
For His Word shall never, never pass away. —Havergal
Our
salvation is secure because God does the holding.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
