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Chapter 3

The Content and Confirmation of the Covenant

1. The Content of the Covenant

God’s covenant of the torch established with Abraham in Genesis 15 is a covenant concerning Abraham’s “descendants” and the “land of Canaan” where they were to dwell.

(1) The promise concerning the descendants

The covenant of the torch promises the election and prosperity of godly descendants who will accomplish God’s administration in the history of redemption. Genesis 15:1–6 deals with the promise concerning the descendants.

Genesis 15:4–5 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

This passage clearly illustrates how God’s kingdom will be established through Abraham’s descendants. Because Abraham believed in this promise of “descendants,” God attributed it to him as righteousness (Gen 15:6).

The history of redemption up until the covenant of the torch was about finding one “godly descendant” to establish the kingdom of God in the future. The history of redemption after the covenant of the torch establishes that the godly descendants of the “one man” will build a nation and fill the whole earth, so that God’s kingdom will be complete (Gen 15:5). Thus, the history of redemption that once worked through one individual and his family expanded to the scale of a nation and out to the entire world; such a turning point was made possible by the covenant of the torch.

(2) The promise concerning the land

The covenant of the torch promises that the land of Canaan will be granted to the godly descendants who will carry out God’s plan of redemption (Gen 15:7–21).

Genesis 15:7 And He said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.”

The message of Genesis 15:13–21 is the promise that the descendants of Abraham would become strangers in a foreign land where they would be oppressed for 400 years, and that they would return to Canaan in the fourth generation.

This is a detailed description of the covenant of the torch:

• First, Abraham’s descendants would become strangers in a foreign land where they would be oppressed for 400 years, but they would eventually come out with great possessions (Gen 15:13–14).

• Second, Abraham would be buried at a good old age and return to his fathers in peace (Gen 15:15).

• Third, the Israelites’ return to the land of Canaan would be accomplished in the fourth generation (Gen 15:16).

• Fourth, God outlined the boundaries of the land of Canaan—from the river of Egypt as far as the great river Euphrates—that would be given to the descendants of Abraham (Gen 15:18–21).

2. The Confirmation of the Covenant

After God disclosed the contents of the covenant, He confirmed it with a smoking oven and a flaming torch (Gen 15:17).

(1) The smoking oven

After having watched for the birds of prey and driven them away when they came down upon the carcasses, Abraham waited tirelessly for the divine presence until the sun went down. At long last, the very first thing that finally appeared over the dedicated sacrifices was a smoking oven (Gen 15:17).

A smoking oven refers to the hot furnace used to melt and refine metal. This foreshadows the severe suffering that the Israelites would face in the future. Gold that passes through a hot furnace comes forth refined as pure gold (Job 23:10). The 400 long and dreary years in Egypt, like being in the “iron furnace of Egypt” (Deut 4:20; 1 Kgs 8:51; Jer 11:4), were the process of purification intended by God to refine the Israelites as pure gold.

It may have seemed torturous and difficult at the time, but herein lies God’s administration in the history of redemption: to cause Israel’s faith to mature through such trials of affliction (Jas 1:2–4), raise them into a “great nation” that trusts only in God (Gen 46:3), and establish them as the true possessors of the land of Canaan.

(2) The flaming torch

After the appearance of the smoking oven, a flaming torch passed between the two pieces of the sacrifice (Gen 15:17). The flaming torch blazing in the darkness after the sunset was a clear and undeniable confirmation. Such a vivid image of the brightly illuminating flames of the torch consuming the surrounding darkness was a powerful assurance that God certainly would accomplish all that He had promised Abraham.

In the Bible, fire often is used to signify God’s glorious presence and His divine manifestation (Isa 10:17; 62:1). The pillar of fire during the wilderness journey was the fire of God’s presence in the midst of the Israelites (Exod 13:21). God often descended in fire (Exod 19:18; 20:18) and spoke from the midst of the fire (Deut 4:11–12, 15, 36; 5:23–24). The torch that appears in the covenant given to Abraham clearly represents the presence of God Himself. Hence, the flaming torch passing between the pieces of the sacrifice was none other than God Himself. This signifies that God will assume total responsibility for the covenant.

One important point to be noted here is that the smoking oven has the denotation of continuously smoking and the torch also signifies continuity

This illustrates the living and active power at work (Heb 4:12), as well as God’s zeal that ceaselessly works to fulfill the salvation of His people (2 Kgs 19:31; Isa 9:7; Ezek 39:25; 2 Cor 11:2). In Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary the word zeal is defined as “passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything” and “eagerness in favor of a person or cause.” God has continued the work of salvation through His zeal, which inspired the hearts of numerous men of faith such as Abraham throughout the generations.

The appearance of the smoking oven and the flaming torch provides three important lessons about the salvation of Abraham’s descendants who are under the covenant of Christ’s blood today.

First, it confirms that we certainly will experience the presence of the living God as long as we cast away our “birds of prey,” the forces of darkness, and persevere even though God’s answer may seem to be delayed.

Second, it shows that the flaming torch will brighten our dark night even when we undergo severe trials and fiery tests and feel as if we cannot see what is ahead because of the darkness surrounding the smoking furnace. We are guaranteed victory because God is ever-present and participates in our afflictions (Isa 63:9).

Third, the smoking furnace and the flaming torch will always complement each other and work together until the salvation of the saints is complete. Both are products of God’s providence founded upon His boundless love. The smoking furnace is a tool that tries us and refines us to perfect our salvation. The flaming torch is a symbol of God’s great consolation and His Immanuel love.

3. The Covenant and God’s Faithfulness

In our journey toward the fulfillment of the covenant of the torch, we cannot help but confess one thing: God’s Word most certainly is fulfilled in history without leaving out a single jot or tittle. The covenant of the torch clearly depicts a blueprint of the grand history of redemption, confirming that this history of redemption, which began with the fall of Adam, will surely see its conclusion at the end of human history.

The words of mankind are deceitful and void because they stem from hearts that are terribly corrupt and deceitful; their words bear no efficacy. Psalm 62:9 states, “Men of low degree are only vanity, and men of rank are a lie; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than breath.” The psalmist, in the midst of severe suffering, confessed, “All men are liars” (Ps 116:11).

The Word of God, however, is the truth that will definitely be kept; it will never end in vain. It certainly will accomplish His pleasing will and return in fruition (Isa 55:11). God does not take back His Words before they are fulfilled (Num 23:19), because He speaks from perfect discernment, complete knowledge, total planning, and eternal providence. Thus, nothing can stand in the way of His Word, for it never withers or fades. The Word of our God stands forever (Isa 40:8). There is no deceit in the One who speaks (Heb 6:18), and He is always the same forever (Heb 13:8).

Our God is always faithful (Rom 3:3; 1 Cor 1:9; 10:13; 2 Cor 1:18; 2 Thess 3:3; Titus 1:9; 3:8; Heb 11:11; 1 Pet 4:19; 1 John 1:9).

1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

In Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary the word faithful is defined as “full of faith, or having faith; disposed to believe, especially in the declarations and promises of God.” In Greek, the word faithful is (pistos), derived from meaning “to induce one to believe, to have confidence, and to put trust.” Since our “faithful” God establishes and advances forward to fulfill the covenant of the torch, this covenant will carry out His administration in the history of redemption and undoubtedly be fulfilled.

Today, the assurance of salvation and the triumph of believers also remain in the faithfulness of God. Hebrews 6:17 tells us, “In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath.” The hope of saints must not falter, but must remain steadfast as long as the promise of God remains as our goal and purpose.