17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.
So I think this is imagery intended to illustrate God taking away our sins, maybe its foreshadowing of Jesus. For me it would be easier if he just came right out and said it. I did a bunch of Google searches and see a lot of interpretations. What is funny to me is how some people write it as fact. The smoking fire pot represents God's holiness. The torch is God saying he will lead us. OK maybe, but maybe not yet they state it as fact.
At the end of the day the lesson to me is trying to be faithful and getting so close to God that I am certain what he wants my next step to be--rather than the constant challenge I have of knowing when is it my thoughts and when is it his direction.
knut
I remember reading this chapter last time through. I seem to recall being a little confused by it last time as well. I found this that helps a little bit. I think its important not to focus on the event, but on the why and the what does it mean.
ReplyDelete“Divided them in the midst”: The sign of ancient covenants often involved the cutting in half of animals, so that the pledging parties could walk between them, affirming that the same should happen to them if they broke the covenant (see Jer. 34:18-19).
“Cutting” Ancient covenants were sometimes confirmed by the halving of the sacrificial victims and the two parties to the covenant passing between them (Mari Tablets and Jer. 34:18-19).
In this case, however, God alone passes between the animal pieces, in the form of a smoking furnace from which torch-like flames shoot out (Exodus19:18), because this covenant with Abram is unconditional, and can be carried out only by God Himself.
In other words, I will make a covenant with you. The animals being 3 years old could be symbolic of the three years of Jesus' ministry here on the earth, or it could mean that these animals had grown to maturity and were something of value to sacrifice.
The fact that the pigeon and turtledove were not separated could, possibly, mean the unity that the Holy Ghost (dove), brings to believers. Most of these animals and birds would become sacrifice for sins in later ceremonies. A covenant of lasting value includes shed blood. It seals the covenant.