"Then birds of prey came down on the carcass, but Abram drove them away." (Genesis 15:11 NIV)
We tend to remember Abraham’s big moment with Isaac and the awesome way God intervened with His own contribution. We might not realize that sacrifice is a muscle and Abram built up his spiritual brawn long before his big renaming.
My Upper Zoom group has been stalled out in Genesis 15 due to scheduling conflicts, so I just keep circling the same twenty scriptures. Yesterday, I started questioning the timeline in this chapter. It opens immediately after Abram’s big win over four invading armies. Outfitted with only 318 men, Abram overtook the enemy, drove them out of Canaan and rescue his nephew Lot. In the wake of this unlikely victory, God spoke directly to Abram. He told him not to be afraid, that He was Abram’s shield and reward. Then God led Abram outside and instructed him to count the stars; his offspring would surely be as numerous.
In my experience, one can only count stars at night. God and Abram shared this amazing moment but Abram had ongoing concerns. Abram’s questions instigated a sacrifice. God very specifically asked for an offering: a heifer, a goat, and a ram, along with a young pigeon. This would have been a costly barbecue, especially considering the tithe Abram had just given to Melchizedek one chapter back.
To his credit, Abram was immediately obedient. He sliced the animals in half, with a path between them, leaving only the birds whole. This layout might strike the modern day reader as weird, but in ancient times a split offering was a normal business transaction. Two parties would walk together between the blood of the animals to seal their covenant with one another.
Only Abram prepared the offering as instructed, and then God didn’t show up to walk the covenant with him. Abram waited. I can imagine his concern as the sun came up and the day grew hot. “Did I mishear God?” I can feel his frustration as the birds of prey came around; “When will God show up? Will all this go to waste?”
Carrion birds find their prey by the faint gasses emitted as a body begins to decay. This process generally requires at least twelve hours. Abram waited amidst his bloody offering all day, watching his extravagant sacrifice sour in the sun. Before long, what should have been fragrant under the fire of God had begun to stink. Did Abram’s attitude turn, also? When the vultures came, did he flail in straight up exasperation?
This hits close for us. We’ve all given things over to God and wondered how He might redeem them. We’ve sat in the sun with dead dreams, our attitude souring, waiting for divine resolution.
For Abram, the sun slid down the horizon and a deep darkness overtook him. Abram fell into a fitful sleep; exhausted from his efforts to surrender. At last, God came in a dream, revealing difficult things, but also precious promises. And finally, God passed through the pieces of Abram’s sacrifice indepently, as a smoking firepot with a blazing torch. Divine touch turned the stench into something pleasing.
I find this passage oddly hopeful. I’ve made similar sacrifices; given big and sat back by my sliced-up stock, expecting immediate recompense. I’ve experienced the frustration of watching potential go to waste. Forgive me, Lord.
Abram’s thirty-six hour encounter with God reminds us that our Father is sovereign. He can’t be hurried by man. His ways are higher than ours. If He asks for something, it’s His to do as He pleases, when and if it fits His agenda.
At the end of the day, the promises of God are upheld by God alone. There’s nothing you or I can do to twist His arm or exact our own agenda. We worship well when we obey and wait, trusting His sovereignty above our experience.
"On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram..." (Genesis 15:18 NIV)
Lord, forgive us for our transactional view of sacrifice. Remind us today that it is our joy to obey, no matter what might happen on the other side of the altar. Grow our capacity to give big, without expectation. Help us trust Your sovereignty above our ability to figure it out. Amen.