In biblical times, covenant-making ceremonies were common legal procedures. A covenant is much like a contract, as it is an agreement between at least two parties. In Hebrew, to make a covenant literally means to “cut a covenant.” This term comes from the ancient practice of “cutting” an animal in half in order that the two parties of the covenant could walk between the two pieces of the animal. This was a symbolic act that basically said what happened to the animal would happen to the party who violated the covenant. 

In Genesis 15, God comes to Abraham and essentially “cuts” a covenant with him. Abraham would have recognized the practice, and it wouldn’t have been strange to him to cut the pieces of the animal and separate them on the ground. There was one thing that would have stood out to Abraham as unique in this covenant ceremony. Abraham, himself, did not walk ceremoniously between the animals. Only the Lord passed between the pieces as a smoking firepot with a blazing torch. God was revealing that He, and He alone, would be the One to fulfill the requirements of the covenant. God not only took up His part of the covenant, He took up man’s part. 

By sending His only Son, Jesus, God paid the penalty for the broken covenant we could not pay. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we enter into a covenant relationship with God, one where we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our God will be faithful to fulfill all the blessings and promises that come with it. He has staked His own Son’s life on it. The blood of Jesus is a testament to the faithfulness of God. If we ever begin to doubt or question the loyalty of God our Heavenly Father, all we have to do is look to the cross. He will always fulfill what He has promised, not because of our efforts or faithfulness, but because of His.