Assurance

“When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.” (Genesis 15:17)

The sense of assurance is a mystery to outsiders, but to those assured it is the very foundation of their lives. Assurance is grounded in both a person and a promise. No text better illustrates this mystery than Genesis 15. To better understand this mystery, let us take a moment to explain Abram’s absence of assurance and the mysterious ritual that follows.

First, Abram has an absence of assurance. Though he received this great promise in Genesis 12, he has doubts. He cannot help but see that ever-growing number on his driver’s license and hear the constant phone calls about his Medicaid Part D plan without wondering if he is too old for the promise to be fulfilled. Can you hear his plea? “Oh, Lord, I continue childless, and You have given me no heir.” (Gen. 15:2-3) Before and after this confession, our Lord diverts Abram’s eyes to His person. “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield….I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur.” (Gen. 15:1, 7) God shifts Abram’s focus from his problems to his God. Whereas Abram is worried about a child, God promises him children, far more children than he can count. Our God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God. What is Abram’s response? “He believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness.” (Gen. 15:6) Abram’s absence of assurance was replaced by the fullness of God.

Second, Abram’s assurance is strengthened by a mysterious ritual. In the Ancient Near East, kings and vassals would “cut a covenant.” A covenant is an agreement between two parties with certain obligations and promises. In this ritual, the servant would cut animals in half, forming a pathway between their mutilated carcasses. Afterwards, the servant would place himself under a great obligation and proceed to walk through the severed pieces, placing a great curse upon himself. In effect, the servant says, “If I do not keep my word, do to me as I have these animals.” Now, look back at our passage. Who walks through the pieces? Not Abram! No, God walks through the pieces. In effect, God says to Abram, “If I do not keep My promises, do this unto me!”

Let this sink in for a moment. God took upon Himself the obligation, leaving us only with the promise. He condescended to such great depths that Abram’s assurance, that our assurance, would be raised to such great heights! And is it not even more so now on this side of the cross? When Jesus Christ was mutilated and hung upon a tree for us and for our sins? Jesus bore this curse for us, taking on our debts and our obligations, that we may enjoy the free promises of God. Oh, believer, when your assurance is low, lift your eyes high unto the cross. There you will see the promise-making and promise-keeping God.