The Lord had just promised Abram again that he would inherit the land. He then asks Abram to prepare a covenant ritual consisting of cutting a three-year-old heifer, female goat, and ram in two down the middle, and to place each piece opposite the other. And .... “a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him” (Genesis 15:7-12). “When the sun had set a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the River Euphrates'” (verses 17, 18).
Abram would have been familiar with the ancient covenant vassal treaties, that consisted of cutting animals in two, and the two parties to a specified agreement walking between the pieces. The significance was that if the treaty was broken, then the party breaking the agreement would be cut in two as the animals were. Walking though the two halves signified the two parties agreement to the blessings and curses of the covenant. The smoke and the fire are symbolic of the Glory of the Lord, as He appeared on Mount Sinai at the giving of the ten commandments (Exodus 19:18). So then the Lord and only the Lord passes through the pieces assuring Abram of God's unconditional and unbreakable covenant promise.
The dream: Horror and great darkness “Then God said to Abram: 'Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (verses 12-16).
The dream foretells Israel's deep affliction in slavery in Egypt; The giving many of parting gifts, in the aftermath of the 10 plagues of Egypt; The drowning of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea as they pursued Israel through the waters God had separated (Exodus chapters 1 to 15). It's worth searching “Evidence of Red Sea crossing” on Youtube.
The iniquity of the Amorites: Barn's notes comments “From this simple sentence we have much to learn. First. The Lord foreknows the moral character of people. Second. In His providence he administers the affairs of nations on the principle of moral rectitude (moral righteousness). Third. Nations are spared until their iniquity is full. Fourth. They are then cut off in retributive justice.” The Amorites occupied the country east of the Jordan, from the Arnon to Mount Hermon, under their two kings, Sihon and Og just before the conquest (Numbers 21:21-35).
Father, Your Word tells us that You the Most High God rule in the Kingdom of men, and You give it to who ever You choose (Daniel 4:32). And when we wonder why You don't intervene, it is for two reasons. Firstly the iniquity is not full, You are always giving time for people to repent (2 Peter 3:9). The second thing, is that Your church has not humbled itself, turned from our wicked ways and sought Your Face (2 Chronicles 7:14). Wake up Your Church Lord to do our part in this time of great wickedness in Jesus Name Amen
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