MPV Commentary

1. After these events, God spoke to Abram in a vision, offering him encouragement and reassurance.

Fear not, Abram, for I am with you. This gracious announcement was given to dispel his fear of potential revenge from the invading kings. Having such a promise, Abram should have dismissed his fears and cast all burdens on the Lord (Ps 27:3).

2. Abram asked, "Lord God, what will you give me?" He still had doubts about the fulfillment of God's promise, despite the declaration that he would be blessed with an exceeding great reward.

3. Abram suggested that Eliezer of Damascus, his chief servant, could be his heir. However, this was not a satisfactory solution, as it fell short of the parental hopes he had been encouraged to entertain. His language betrayed a spirit of fretfulness and frustration, revealing a temporary failure in submitting to God's timing.

4. The Lord responded by saying that Eliezer would not be Abram's heir. Instead, Abram asked how he could know for certain that he would inherit the land. This led to a most explicit promise of Canaan, which was confirmed by a remarkable ceremony.

9-21. To seal this covenant, take an heifer, a goat, and a ram, along with a dove and a pigeon. Cut them in two and lay them out side by side. Then walk between the pieces as a sign that God is making a binding agreement with Abram. This was a common practice among Eastern people when entering into a compact or covenant.

In this transaction, Abram did not pass between the sacrifice because he was not bound to anything. Instead, he asked for a sign, and God provided one by which Abram could know that he would inherit the land. Similarly, God has entered into a covenant with us through the glory of His only-begotten Son, who passed through between God and humanity, giving us a pledge in the gift of the Spirit to confirm our inheritance of the heavenly Canaan.