Genesis 15:18-21 “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Post-war, taxes increased steadily to support the luxurious lifestyle of the rich. People grew restless and in the violent climate Abram did not feel safe anymore. Then one night God appeared to him in a vision and encouraged him with these words [Genesis 15:1]:
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Abram was still grieving over his nephew’s life choices. Originally, he had intended him as his heir. Frustrated he addressed the Lord: “What can you give me if I don’t have a son who carries on my legacy? It looks like I’ll sign over my estate to Eliezer, my servant.” But the Lord replied [Genesis 15:4]:
“This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”
And the Lord pointed to the night sky and said: “If you can count the stars in the sky above then you can count your offspring.” Abram gazed at the stars in wonder not knowing what to think.
The following day God revealed to Abram that his future offspring would have to conquer the land of Canaan. He tried to understand the meaning of it all and asked the Lord: “How can I be sure that we will own this land?” And the Lord replied, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”
Abram immediately went to inspect his flocks and herds and selected the best specimen of his heifers, goats, and rams. He tied them and brought them to the altar, where he killed them and cut them in two – a symbol that one who breaks the covenant would also break apart. The birds, however, he did not cut in half. After a while vultures circled the carcasses, but Abram shooed them away.
As the sun approached the horizon Abram fell into a deep sleep. A thick and dreadful darkness came over him. In a dream Abram saw his descendants in a strange country, enslaved and brutally beaten. He wept when he realized what kind of cruelty his future children would have to endure.
Meanwhile the sun had set and darkness had fallen on the land. Abram awoke when the pungent smell of burnt meat filled his nostrils. A smoking firepot with a blazing torch had appeared and passed between the pieces he had previously arranged on the altar. And God said: “I will punish the foreign nation and free your children. I will see to it that they will not leave this country empty-handed.” Then the Lord added [Genesis 15:15]:
“You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.”
Thus the covenant with Abram was sealed. The Lord had shown him things beyond his lifetime and perhaps beyond his capacity to understand. To his credit, Abram believed, and this pleased the Lord more than anything else.