Afr 2020 - Genesis 15:10-21 -And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ~ Genesis 15:8–9
GUARANTEED BY COVENANT
Are you discouraged because a breakthrough that you have been praying for has yet to manifest? Maybe it has been days or even weeks and you are asking, “How will I know that I will get it?” Abraham faced the same situation and asked God the same question. And God answered, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” What a strange answer!
But if you read on (Genesis 15:10–21), you will realize that God took Abraham’s question very seriously, and went on to show him just how serious He was about being his provider, protector and blesser. God was so serious that He was willing to bind Himself to a covenant / (verbond.)
What is a covenant? It is like a contract. Yet, it is more than a contract. A contract is binding only for a period of time, like five years or seven years, or until certain terms are fulfilled. But a covenant is perpetual. It is permanent. The only way out is through death. That is why marriage is a covenant, not a contract. It is permanent—“Till death do us part.”
In Bible times, when you cut a covenant with someone, you bring an animal, usually a ram or goat, and kill it by cutting it in two. Next, you will face your covenant partner and walk toward each other between the two pieces of the animal, passing each other in the center.
What all this means is that both parties are obligated to protect and provide for each other. Whatever belongs to you is your partner’s and whatever belongs to your partner is yours. Of course, the one who benefits is the lesser or poorer party.
Today, God is in covenant with us. We are the lesser, poorer party. We have nothing to offer God. But God, the richest and most powerful being in the universe, has everything to offer us!
My friend, God has bound Himself to a covenant, an iron-clad guarantee of His blessings and provision in your life, and it is all for your benefit. The breakthrough you are waiting for is guaranteed by covenant!
10 Abram het dit alles vir Hom gebring en middeldeur gesny. Toe plaas hy die dele teenoor mekaar. Die voëls het hy egter nie deurgesny nie.
11 Roofvoëls het op die dooie diere toegesak, maar Abram het hulle verwilder.
12 Toe die son besig is om onder te gaan, het 'n diep slaap Abram oorval. Meteens oorval skrik, 'n groot duisternis, hom.
13 Die Here sê toe vir Abram: “Weet baie goed dat jou nageslag •vreemdelinge sal wees in 'n land wat nie aan hulle behoort nie. Hulle sal daardie mense moet dien, en dié sal hulle verdruk, vierhonderd jaar lank.
14 Maar ook die nasie vir wie hulle moet dien, gaan Ek oordeel. Daarna sal hulle uittrek met 'n menigte besittings.
15 Wat jou betref, jy sal in vrede na jou voorouers gaan en op 'n hoë ouderdom begrawe word.
16 Die vierde geslag sal hierheen terugkeer. Want die •Amoriete se sondeskuld het nog nie sy volle maat bereik nie.”
17 Toe die son ondergegaan het, en dit skemerdonker was – kyk, toe is daar die rook van 'n oond en die vuur van 'n fakkel wat tussen daardie stukke deurbeweeg.
18 Op daardie dag het die Here met Abram 'n verbond gesluit: “Aan jou nageslag gee Ek hierdie land, van die rivier van Egipte af tot by die groot rivier, die Eufraatrivier –
19 die gebied van die Keniete, Kenissiete, Kadmoniete,
20 Hetiete, Feresiete, Refaïete,
21 Amoriete, Kanaäniete, Girgasiete en Jebusiete.”
