November 29: The First Sunday of Advent
And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other…As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him…When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.–Genesis 15:7-10, 17
Abram is very concerned about getting the land God promised him. When he asks how he can be sure he’ll get it, the Lord “cuts” a covenant with him. The animals cut apart symbolize the curse that comes at the breaking of the covenant and the fire and smoke are the Lord as he passes through the pieces. He’s done something like that before in passing through the “cut apart” Red Sea. It is as thought the Lord is saying: “Let it be unto me as it is to these animals if I don’t see this covenant through.”
As Christians we know that “the land” Abram knew was only a shadow the New Heavens and the New Earth (Rom. 4:13; Heb. 11:8-10) where all believers will live forever with Christ as a kingdom of priests. This covenant has stipulations that we have all broken by our sin. But it was not we who were made like those animals on the cross for our sins, but Christ. He suffered for our sin that he could guarantee our inheritance in the land of the New Heavens and the New Earth (Rev. 22).
And that’s the gospel. Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this first Sunday of Advent.The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Psalm 23)
And Can It Be That I Should Gain
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (on Reformed Treasures) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!