Abraham in Canaan
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gracious purposes toward them would be accomplished. The Lord
condescended to enter into a covenant with His servant, employing
such forms as were customary among men for the ratification of a
solemn engagement. By divine direction, Abraham sacrificed a heifer,
a she-goat, and a ram, each three years old, dividing the bodies and
laying the pieces a little distance apart. To these he added a turtledove
and a young pigeon, which, however, were not divided. This being
done, he reverently passed between the parts of the sacrifice, making a
solemn vow to God of perpetual obedience. Watchful and steadfast, he
remained beside the carcasses till the going down of the sun, to guard
them from being defiled or devoured by birds of prey. About sunset
he sank into a deep sleep; and, “lo, a horror of great darkness fell
upon him.” And the voice of God was heard, bidding him not to expect
immediate possession of the Promised Land, and pointing forward to
the sufferings of his posterity before their establishment in Canaan.
The plan of redemption was here opened to him, in the death of Christ,
the great sacrifice, and His coming in glory. Abraham saw also the
earth restored to its Eden beauty, to be given him for an everlasting
possession, as the final and complete fulfillment of the promise.
As a pledge of this covenant of God with men, a smoking furnace
and a burning lamp, symbols of the divine presence, passed between
the severed victims, totally consuming them. And again a voice was
heard by Abraham, confirming the gift of the land of Canaan to his
descendants, “from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river
Euphrates.”
When Abraham had been nearly twenty-five years in Canaan, the
Lord appeared unto him, and said, “I am the Almighty God; walk
before Me, and be thou perfect.” In awe, the patriarch fell upon his
face, and the message continued: “Behold, My covenant is with thee,
and thou shalt be a father of many nations.” In token of the fulfillment
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of this covenant, his name, heretofore called Abram, was changed to
Abraham, which signifies, “father of a great multitude.” Sarai’s name
became Sarah—“princess;” for, said the divine Voice, “she shall be a
mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.”
At this time the rite of circumcision was given to Abraham as “a
seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircum-
cised.”
Romans 4:11
. It was to be observed by the patriarch and his
descendants as a token that they were devoted to the service of God