Part 6
After Abraham divides the covenant animals, something unexpected happens. Abraham does not walk between the pieces. Instead, he falls into a deep sleep:
“And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.”
Genesis 15:12, KJV
God then declares what will happen to Abraham’s descendants, including their affliction, deliverance, and eventual inheritance of the land (Genesis 15:13–16). When darkness falls, two mysterious manifestations appear:
“Behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.”
Genesis 15:17, KJV
Abraham remains asleep while the smoking furnace and burning lamp pass through the divided flesh.
God Takes the Covenant Path
Jeremiah helps explain the significance of passing between divided animals. Those who entered a covenant by walking between the pieces placed themselves under the judgment represented by the divided sacrifice if they violated their agreement (Jeremiah 34:18–20).
Genesis 15 is unusual because Abraham does not make that walk. The covenant manifestations pass through the pieces while he is passive. The ceremony therefore places the emphasis upon God’s commitment to fulfill the promise.
This becomes especially significant when Israel, Abraham’s descendants, later breaks covenant with God. If the covenant path represents the consequence of covenant failure, Genesis has already shown God passing through the symbol of that consequence.
The Smoking Furnace and Burning Lamp
Genesis does not explicitly identify the smoking furnace and burning lamp as separate persons of the Godhead, so any further identification must remain typological. Their imagery, however, becomes interesting when compared with later Scripture.
Fire, smoke, and furnace imagery repeatedly accompany God’s presence. Mount Sinai is covered in smoke because “the LORD descended upon it in fire,” causing the mountain to appear like “the smoke of a furnace” (Exodus 19:18). Deuteronomy later describes God bringing Israel “out of the iron furnace” of Egypt (Deuteronomy 4:20).
Lamp imagery develops differently. Revelation describes the New Jerusalem as needing neither sun nor moon because God’s glory illuminates it:
“For the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”
Revelation 21:23, KJV
The Greek word translated “light” in this final phrase, lychnos, more specifically means lamp. The Lamb is the city’s lamp.
Within the thesis being explored, the smoking furnace can therefore be considered imagery associated with the Father, while the burning lamp can be read as a possible anticipation of Christ, the Lamb who becomes God’s lamp.
The Seed Is Bound to the Covenant
The covenant of Genesis 15 is specifically concerned with Abraham’s seed:
“Unto thy seed have I given this land…”
Genesis 15:18, KJV
This matters because Christ is later identified with Abraham’s seed. Paul writes:
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made… And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Galatians 3:16, KJV
Christ therefore enters the biblical story not only as the Son of God, but also as the Seed connected with Abraham’s covenant.
Genesis 15 can consequently be read as an early picture of what the covenant will eventually require. Divided flesh lies on the ground, Abraham is unable to secure the promise through his own action, and the divine manifestations pass through the place of covenant judgment.
The Covenant Points Toward the Cross
The ceremony establishes a pattern that becomes clearer in Christ. Covenant is cut through divided flesh. The promise concerns Abraham’s seed. God Himself passes through the place representing the covenant curse, while Abraham sleeps.
The New Testament later declares that Christ, Abraham’s Seed, bears that curse:
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…”
Galatians 3:13, KJV
Genesis 15 does not explicitly say that the burning lamp is Jesus walking toward the cross. The imagery becomes significant when read alongside the later revelation of Christ as Abraham’s Seed, the Lamb, and the One who bears the covenant curse.
The covenant that passes symbolically through divided flesh in Genesis will eventually be fulfilled through actual human flesh. Christ enters Abraham’s lineage, takes the covenant burden upon Himself, and carries its curse to the cross.
The Covenant Passes Through Divided Flesh
After Abraham divides the covenant animals, something unexpected happens. Abraham does not walk between the pieces. Instead, he falls into a deep sleep:
“And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.”
Genesis 15:12, KJV
God then declares what will happen to Abraham’s descendants, including their affliction, deliverance, and eventual inheritance of the land (Genesis 15:13–16). When darkness falls, two mysterious manifestations appear:
“Behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.”
Genesis 15:17, KJV
Abraham remains asleep while the smoking furnace and burning lamp pass through the divided flesh.
God Takes the Covenant Path
Jeremiah helps explain the significance of passing between divided animals. Those who entered a covenant by walking between the pieces placed themselves under the judgment represented by the divided sacrifice if they violated their agreement (Jeremiah 34:18–20).
Genesis 15 is unusual because Abraham does not make that walk. The covenant manifestations pass through the pieces while he is passive. The ceremony therefore places the emphasis upon God’s commitment to fulfill the promise.
This becomes especially significant when Israel, Abraham’s descendants, later breaks covenant with God. If the covenant path represents the consequence of covenant failure, Genesis has already shown God passing through the symbol of that consequence.
The Smoking Furnace and Burning Lamp
Genesis does not explicitly identify the smoking furnace and burning lamp as separate persons of the Godhead, so any further identification must remain typological. Their imagery, however, becomes interesting when compared with later Scripture.
Fire, smoke, and furnace imagery repeatedly accompany God’s presence. Mount Sinai is covered in smoke because “the LORD descended upon it in fire,” causing the mountain to appear like “the smoke of a furnace” (Exodus 19:18). Deuteronomy later describes God bringing Israel “out of the iron furnace” of Egypt (Deuteronomy 4:20).
Lamp imagery develops differently. Revelation describes the New Jerusalem as needing neither sun nor moon because God’s glory illuminates it:
“For the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”
Revelation 21:23, KJV
The Greek word translated “light” in this final phrase, lychnos, more specifically means lamp. The Lamb is the city’s lamp.
Within the thesis being explored, the smoking furnace can therefore be considered imagery associated with the Father, while the burning lamp can be read as a possible anticipation of Christ, the Lamb who becomes God’s lamp.
The Seed Is Bound to the Covenant
The covenant of Genesis 15 is specifically concerned with Abraham’s seed:
“Unto thy seed have I given this land…”
Genesis 15:18, KJV
This matters because Christ is later identified with Abraham’s seed. Paul writes:
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made… And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Galatians 3:16, KJV
Christ therefore enters the biblical story not only as the Son of God, but also as the Seed connected with Abraham’s covenant.
Genesis 15 can consequently be read as an early picture of what the covenant will eventually require. Divided flesh lies on the ground, Abraham is unable to secure the promise through his own action, and the divine manifestations pass through the place of covenant judgment.
The Covenant Points Toward the Cross
The ceremony establishes a pattern that becomes clearer in Christ. Covenant is cut through divided flesh. The promise concerns Abraham’s seed. God Himself passes through the place representing the covenant curse, while Abraham sleeps.
The New Testament later declares that Christ, Abraham’s Seed, bears that curse:
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…”
Galatians 3:13, KJV
Genesis 15 does not explicitly say that the burning lamp is Jesus walking toward the cross. The imagery becomes significant when read alongside the later revelation of Christ as Abraham’s Seed, the Lamb, and the One who bears the covenant curse.
The covenant that passes symbolically through divided flesh in Genesis will eventually be fulfilled through actual human flesh. Christ enters Abraham’s lineage, takes the covenant burden upon Himself, and carries its curse to the cross.