The Daily Word of Righteousness

From Bethel to El-bethel, #2

He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." (Genesis 15:7—NIV)

Let us commence our study with Abram.

Our story begins as God presents Himself to Abram. God had just informed Abram that his offspring would be as the stars of the heavens, and Abram had believed God. The Gospel thus was launched on the basis of Abram's willingness to trust God for the impossible.

But there was a long way to go for Abram before he had seen all the sides of the Personality of Christ, for Christ is the God of the Old Testament, the God of Abram as well as the Seed of Abram.

But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know I will gain possession of it?" (Genesis 15:8—NIV)

When you think God has promised something to you there is nothing wrong with going back to the Lord for confirmation before you begin to talk about your revelation or act on it. If more Christians would do this there would be less deception taking place.

Christ will never, never be displeased when you seek to be assured that you are hearing from Him. The Bible commands us to test the spirits. Don't handle the spirit realm fearfully, ask for proof. That which is from God will not be insulted.

So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." (Genesis 15:9—NIV)

We come to know the Lord through sacrifice. We are not properly aware of our salvation until it costs us something of value.

Under the new covenant the sacrifice is that of our whole personality. Until we present our body a living sacrifice to God we cannot know His will. God's will is made known to us by His Word, by inner peace and joy, and by our circumstances. If one of these three elements is not present we need to wait a bit before we proceed.

But in every case, God's will can be proved only as we present our body a living sacrifice, not being conformed to the spirit of the world but being transformed by the renewing of our mind.

Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. (Genesis 15:10—NIV)

Some who study the covenants of the Bible say the pieces of the animals were arranged in such a manner that an aisle was between them. The persons entering into the covenant passed between the bloody parts. One can see that this was a solemn ceremony, an agreement validated by death.

Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. (Genesis 15:11—NIV)

Birds that feed on carrion smelled the flesh and blood of the animal parts. Abram was kept busy keeping them off the sacrifice.

When we open our personality to God we become attractive to the demons. How many times fervent, new Christians are led astray by demonic deception! You probably have seen it happen and have grieved because of it.

To be continued.