The Second Sunday in Lent

“O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” — Genesis 15

These words were spoken by Abram (before he became Abraham) in response to God telling him that he was granting him the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, to the river Euphrates. Abram was unsure how he would know that he would possess the land.

God responded by telling Abram to get a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young bird. [Bet you didn’t see that coming!]

What happened next is even more strange. Abram cuts the animals in two and separates the two pieces of each animal from each other. Then he falls into a deep sleep and a dark dread falls upon him. Then a smoking oven and a flaming torch passed between the divided animals.

This strange display was ultimately God’s answer to Abram’s question, how am I to know that I shall possess it? This Sunday I want to try to explain how this is the best answer to Abram’s question as well as how it answers our most deep questions about life and existence and God.

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!