Abram had trouble believing that God would keep His promise. He still lived in a tent, though God had assured him land of his own. “How can I know that I will gain possession of it?” Abram asked (Genesis 15:8).


So God spoke to him through something he could understand. According to the custom of the day for two persons making an oath to each other, Abram would cut the carcasses of animals in half and put them on the ground with a path between the halves. Normally, both parties would walk there to demonstrate their commitment. But God caused Abram to fall into a deep sleep and showed him a vision of a smoking fire pot and a blazing torch moving down the path instead. God was making a solemn commitment to fulfill His promise. Abram knew he had an unbreakable contract, one that God would fulfill even if Abram failed.


Do you sometimes doubt that God will keep all of His promises? He sealed every one of them through the precious blood of His Son on the cross, an “object lesson” reaching right into our hearts.