And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.
Comment: To get the ‘he’ and ‘him’ of the first sentence sorted out – the ‘he’ is Abram, the ‘him’ is God. Yesterday Abram was said to have ‘believed’ God, but here he is seeking a signed document, some proof of this. Apparently the signing of an agreement in that time and in that area was to prepare two rows of slaughtered animals, a half of each on opposite sides of the rows. Both parties to the agreement walked down between them. We will have to see what happens here as Abram is giving nothing to the contract, God is promising much!
Prayer: Thank You for the record of Your dealing with people of old. Thank You that You have not forgotten us these days, even if we sometimes doubt.
As I read it! 