Walking With Christ

Genesis 15:17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.(ESV)

This is part of the story of the covenant with Abram (who later became Abraham). The significance of this is not well taught in many circles.

The animals would be sacrificed and cut in half. The two halves would be separated just a bit and the blood would be poured out between the two parts. Sometimes, as in this case with Abram, more than one animal would be used. A path would be created that was covered in blood.

When two kings would come together to make a binding agreement this was often done. It was always the lesser king who would walk through the blood as a sign that meant “I agree that this is what will happen to me if I break this covenant”. The lesser king was basically saying that if they broke their promise they would die.

In the case of Abram, I doubt anyone could argue about whether Abram was the lesser being in this covenant, but it wasn’t Abram that walked through the blood. God made an unbreakable promise to Abram.