February 13 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

In these verses we witness the making of a covenant between the Creator of the world and the ancestor of a nation that was to be God's instrument for bringing salvation to the world.

The elements for covenant making (the cut animals) were the same as those used in hundreds of binding contracts between ancient rulers.

A covenant means that A makes a promise to B. B may demand what A has promised, but B must provide what A requires in the terms of the contract. The cut animals are a solemn warning against unfaithfulness in the covenant.

Covenant making was not unusual as such. The unusual thing about this particular covenant was that God himself pledged fidelity to this man and his children. God stooped to use this human form of contract in order to assure Abram that God's promises are reliable.

Abram made the preparations, but his partner let him wait. Trusting that God would come, Abram kept the "elements" clean. Then Abram fell into a deep sleep, and the darkness descended. The "thick and dreadful darkness" not only fell around Abram but also "came over him." Under the spell of a deep religious fear, Abram met with his partner—God.

Smoke and fire signify the appearance of God. And it is God alone (instead of the two partners) who walks between the cut animals.

A covenant with God is, necessarily, more of a one-sided promise than a two-sided agreement. Therefore we call our relationship to God a covenant of grace. God has freely promised; we may ask with boldness.

God does require of his partners that they walk with him in faith and obedience: "And what does the lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic. 6:8).

REFLECTIONS

Reflect on—and give thanks for—God's promises to you.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.