Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

THE PROMISE AND COVENANT 1 f : 12-17
which attempted to light on the pieces, denoted the Egyp-
tians, and other enemies of Israel, which should in vain
attempt to devour them, Ezek. 17:3, 7, 12. The horror of
great darkness which fell upon Abram, signified their great
distress and vexation in Egypt, and under their frequent
oppressors, Psa. Y5:3-Y, Dan. 10:8; and hence they are like
to a bush burning and not consumed, Exo. 3:2-3. The
burnii$g lanzp denoted .their manifest and joyful deliver-
ance, Judg. 6:21, Isa. 62: 1; the siizoking fu,r?zace, their
affliction in Egypt, Deut. 4:20, Jer. 11:4.” It should be
nwted agaiiz that it was the Lord Jehovah who did the
promising awd the revealing: all that was required of
Abram was that he believe the word of God and act
accordingly. This Abranz did, actualizing in every detail
the ritual of the unilateral covenant (which was soon to
be extended to include circunzcision as the divinely a#-
pointed seal).
7. The Oracle (vv. 12-17).
In this connection, review Green’s analysis (supra)
of the time element involved in the sequence of Abram’s
experiences as related in this chapter. After keeping watch
over the birds of sacrifice, driving away the birds of prey,
evidently from what in his consciousness was morning until
evening, the sun went down, we are told, and a deep sleep
fell upon him, and a horror of great darkness gathered
around him. “Amidst the deepening gloom there appeared
unto him a Smoking Furnace and a Burning Lamp passing
along the space between the divided victims. Presently a
Voice came to him telling him that his seed should be a
stranger in a land that was not theirs, that there they
should suffer affliction 400 years; that afterwards, in the
fourth generatioiz, when the cup of the Ainorites was full,
they shozcld come out with great substance, return to the
spoit where the patriarch now was, and enter on their
promised inheritance. Thus, amidst mingled light and
gloom, the ancestor of the elect nation was warned of the
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