THE PROMISE KEEPERS

GENESIS 15 

The word promise means “a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something”.

Promises used to mean something.  A man’s word, what he says to you, what he tells you, in the past was as good as a signed contract.  A man would no more break a promise to you than he would steal your mule.  But that was then and this is now.  

People in our world today give no value at all to their word.  They can look you in the eye, show every indication of sincerity and honesty and all the while in their hearts and mind know that what they are saying is not true.   

In the past there were jokes made about used car salesmen and their proclivity to say things that were not true.  Today instead of jokes it is an understood FACT that local, state , national and international leaders and politicians “would rather climb a tree to lie than stand on the ground to tell the truth”. 

There should be a way, a method, a system that would assure us that when someone says something to us, when they promise us something that it will be done.  “Oh, we have a system like that”, you say.  If someone is untrue to us we can take them to court.  REALLY?

When the highest leaders in our nation will sit before the investigating committees and the court system, look squarely into the camera  and tell a lie and not be held accountable for it….does that prove to you that our system works?  

I will be the first to admit that the systems that were in place in the Bible days were not exactly what I would indorse.  A child who “smart-mouths” a parent could be taken out and stoned to death in the street…..a bit harsh.  A wife who was unfaithful to her husband……murdered…..without hesitation.

A man who hits another man and puts out his eye could have his own eye gouged out and everyone is good with that.  

And what about promises?  Well they had a plan for that too.  It was called “The Blood Covenant”.  

The blood covenant was the most binding covenant any two people or groups of people could enter into. Once performed,  to the only way out of it is by the death of one or both of the covenant makers. It is something that is never entered into lightly.  Actually, it was part of an old Chaldean custom and covenant.   

This is the way it worked.  When two people entered into a covenant or made a promise to each other they would “seal” that promise in this way.  They would take a live animal and cut it in half (many times this was called “cutting” the covenant instead of making the covenant).  They placed the two halves opposite each other and in a place where the blood from the animals would run down in a pool. (perhaps on the sides of a ditch or a ravine).  Both men would then walk through this blood, between the halves of the dead animals and by thus doing they were saying, “If I break my part of this covenant, you may kill me and cut me in half as these animals”. 

There was no “I’ll take you to court” or “you will repay me money”….you sealed your promise with your life’s blood.  

Yes, I agree with you.  If we did things in our day and time as they did back then……..ummmm. 

So with that in mind, lets read about one of those covenants which took place with our old friend Abram.  Let’s read Genesis chapter 15 the entire 21 verses.   

Here we find God making a promise, a commitment, a covenant if you will with Abram.  God tells him that He will bless him with a child and with decedents that could not be numbered.  They would be as the stars of the sky.  God even walked Abram out into the night sky and showed him the stars to emphasize the promise.   

God also promised that this very land on which Abram was standing would be his and his decedents forever.  He mapped out the boundaries.  (Just in case you are wondering who is going to own the land in the middle east, go back and read what God said and compare it to a current map.) 

That was God’s part.  What was Abram’s part?  He and his decedents would live according to God’s commands.  Simple enough, right? 

But all this seems impossible through Abram’s eyes.  You see Abram doesn’t even have children and he is an old man by this time in his life.  His wife is an old woman way beyond the years in which a woman can have a baby.  Even if they had children, and that was a BIG IF, how could they take over this land?  There were already kingdoms, nations, cities and forces established here.  The words, AIN’T NO WAY, formed on Abram’s lips. 

God tells Abram to set up the contract.  A cow, a goat and a ram plus a dove and a pigeon.  Abram cuts the cow, goat and ram in half but the dove and pigeon he leaves whole.  He places them on the “contract table” and awaits the “signing” of the contract.   

Can you imagine the fear and trepidation that must have been going on in Abram’s head?  Oh, he was sure that God could keep His part of the promise but he knew there was “no way” that he, Abram could keep his part.  Surely, this covenant was going to mean the end of Abram and his family.  But he did what he was told.   

While Abram is waiting on God (look at the person next to you and tell them, “Sometimes I have to wait on God to move”)  Birds swoop down and try to destroy the contract.   

“Come on man!  I’m jumping through all the hoops.  I’m doing what I have been told and taught to do.  I’m going to enter into this contract if it kills me and it probably will, and now I’ve got to deal with birds trying to steal the sacrifice?!!!!” 

I bet you’ve had to deal with your share of “angry birds” haven’t you?  I know that I have in my lifetime.   

·         Just when you think you have done all that God has asked you to do the old black bird of doubt flies down and tries to take away your assurance.  

·         Just when you are working your hardest for the kingdom and think that you are just about to get things accomplished,  the red bird of anger swoops in and tries to destroy your relationship with other Christians. 

·         And there you sit in Sunday morning worship service trying to have a positive outlook and an up-beat attitude and the old blue Jay of depressions flies down and puts a frown on your face and a cloud in your sky.   

·         These old birds and a million others like them circle you like a flock of vultures.  Their wings block out the SON.   

What can you do?  Do what Abram did. 

Abram understood that he might not be able to affect the contract.  He knew that he did not have the strength to make all this happen but he could “shew” away the birds.  And he did.  He stood out there with his doubts and his confusion and his depression and his fear and he “shewed” away the birds.   

Shewing birds is not easy is it?  Oh, you can do it  but it would be much better if you had some help.  What if Sarai would have stood beside him and threw a few rocks at those birds?  What if she would have gotten her broom and begin running those pesky varmints away?   

 But here is my favorite part of the story.  Look at this.  When it was darkest, when the sun was going down, when the “horror” of darkness fell around him….. 

God walked through the ditch.  For a long time I read this story and taught this story but it took a while for me to see the significance of the two lights.  You very well know that I am not a Bible scholar.  I have no degrees or education.  There may be another logical, historical, practical reason why things happened like they did….but this is my read on it.  

The first light was from the smoking furnace.  This was a smoldering pot of hot coals.  It was used to start a fire in those days.  The smoking furnace represents God the Father.  He would be the first to walk through the blood.  He is all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present.  He could without a doubt keep His end of the bargain.    

And then,  Christian think about this, then when Abram couldn’t take that walk.  When walking that blood path would have meant certain death for Abram and his descendants……someone else walked the blood path for him.  Someone with another light, a burning lamp, a torch, walked down that path.  It wasn’t God.  He had already walked through the blood.  He had already signed the contract.  It wasn’t Abram.  He could not walk the walk.   

Doing so would mean certain death.  Who then carried that burning lamp?  Who would walk the blood path and put his name on the contract? 

JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, JESUS THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, WALKED THE BLOOD PATH FOR ABRAM……AND FOR ME! 

And discouraged Christian, fearful Christian, depressed Christian, angry Christian, I just came by to tell you….Jesus walked through the blood for you too!  Jesus said, “I’ll sign the contract” and the covenant was finalized. 

Abram still had a long way to go.  His journey was a lengthy one and one filled with troubles and trials.  He would still have to  believe in the promises that God made to him.  But each time he came to a place where he faced Satan and his demons…….he remembered the promise and moved on with faith. 

To me that is one of the most moving stories in the Old Testament.  No matter how many times I go back and read that story it blesses my heart.  But what can we gain “practically” from this story?  What can I take away from here tonight that will help me be a better Christian?  Here it is.   

1.  Shew the birds.  Your friends and family, your church family, your pastor, people you work with every day are being surrounded by “birds” of doubt, fear, confusion.  Look at the people in this church.  Look at the people in this room.  Pick out someone, anyone and help them.  How? 

·         Prayer

·         Notes

·         Calls

·         A kind word 

2.  Look for the promises. I’ve reminded you of this for many years now.  The Word of God is packed with promises. Promises that are not only for the people of that time but promises that are for you and me.  SEARCH the scriptures.  Don’t just read them, search them.  There are thousands of Bible helps; concordances, Bible dictionaries, different translations, study books, the computer, all there to help you study. 

Look for the promises.  Ask Him to show you the ones that you need right now.  He’ll point them out to you if you will make an effort.  He will make them come alive to you and stir your heart when you read them.  He’ll even help you memorize them. Claim those promises as your own. 

3.  And never forget who walked through the blood to finalize that contract with you.  It was your loving Father and His Son Jesus Christ.  Hear these promise they made to you:

Isaiah 41:13;   “ I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying , Fear not: I will help you”.

Psalms 50:15;  “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you”.

Jeremiah 33:3;  “Call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know”.

  They are the ultimate Promise Keepers