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backwards from the start

Genesis 15:17&18
"17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:"

This is wild and crazy!
It's a gruesome scene, God is directing Abraham to sacrifice animals, placing each half opposite the other along a path. It's the stage for a blood covenant. The loosing party would walk between the slain animal bodies saying; "If I do not fulfill this covenant, I will be sacrificed like these animals." It's brutally blunt in its meaning.

ONLY, in today's verse it says "...a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces." Fire is the recognised symbol of GOD, as in the burning bush, the pillar of fire, and more. So, this is GOD who walks between the animal carcasses. Its suppose to be the looser but God passed through. It's up side down or backwards. Even here at the "beginning" of GOD'S Covenant with people; it GOD doing what people cannot and wont do. So, then God is sacrificed on the cross for our salvation. Jesus bears the punishment for our sins. Abraham doesn't pay the price, God does. We know we are saved by Jesus's blood. We don't pay the price Jesus DID! Jesus was killed on the cross and for three days it looked like evil had triumphed! But then Jesus rose from the grave. Trust that God fulfills His promise.
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