God proved His promise by performing the ancient Near Eastern blood-covenant title deed ceremony and then declaring the land given - in the past tense - to Abram.
When Abram asked 'whereby shall I know that I'll inherit it?' God commanded the three-year-old sacrifices and had Abram divide the animals, leaving the birds whole - the customary way a real-estate title was transferred in Abram's culture. Les Feldick explains that God walked Abram through exactly the rite Abram would recognize as a binding, blood-sealed land deed, and then declared in Genesis 15:18, 'Unto thy seed have I given this land.'
Genesis 15:7-8 — God declares His promise to give Abram the land, and Abram asks how he can know he will inherit it.
Genesis 15:9-10 — God commands the sacrificial animals and their division - the elements of the title-deed ceremony.
Genesis 15:18 — The LORD makes the covenant and declares the land given to Abram's seed.
After declaring, 'I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it' (Genesis 15:7), God heard Abram's response: 'Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?' (Genesis 15:8). God answered by commanding Abram to bring a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon (Genesis 15:9). Abram divided the large animals in the midst and laid each piece one against another, but the birds he did not divide (Genesis 15:10). The Scripture records that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and horror of great darkness fell upon him (Genesis 15:12). Then 'in the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates' (Genesis 15:18). The promise is stated in the past tense - God had already given the land.
Les observes that Abram, for all his faith, was 'just as human as we are' and wanted proof: 'Lord God, whereby shall I know that I'll inherit it?' (Clips 0, 1, 4, 6). Instead of rebuking Abram, God gave him the deed. Les explains that in Abram's day, pagan cultures did 'everything based on blood sacrifice,' and under the ancient Babylonian rules of real-estate transfer - which he traces to the laws of Hammurabi - men would kill animals, part the carcasses, leave a walkway between the halves, and seal the contract with a blood covenant (Clips 1, 3). God used this familiar custom with Abram, commanding the specific sacrifices of Genesis 15:9-10, so that Abram would recognize a binding transfer of ownership. Les calls the passage from verse 10 through verse 18 'Israel's Deed' - the signing of the title deed (Clips 0, 4). He highlights that in verse 18 God deeded the land from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates - far more than the narrow Mediterranean-to-Jordan strip (Clips 2, 5). And to show the covenant was God's alone, God put Abram to sleep so Abram had nothing to do with the covenant responsibility (Clip 3). Les concludes the deed is 'just as valid in 1992 as it was the day that God issued it' (Clip 0).
Les stresses that Abram was just as human as we are. Even though he took God's promises by faith, when God moved from promises about numberless descendants to real estate, Abram responded, 'Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I'll inherit it?' (Clips 0, 1, 6). Rather than rebuking his doubt, God gave him exactly what he asked for - the deed to the land (Clips 2, 4).
Les explains that in pagan cultures everything was based on blood sacrifice. According to ancient Babylonian rules (which Les associates with Hammurabi), when real estate was transferred, the parties took animals, killed them, parted the carcasses and left a walkway between the halves. The two men then made a blood covenant - probably with a cut in the hand - and shook hands, making the contract binding (Clip 3). God came down and did the very same thing with Abram, commanding the specific three-year-old animals and the birds (Clips 1, 3).
In the same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram: 'Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates' (Genesis 15:18). Les notes this is far more than the narrow strip from the Mediterranean to the Jordan, and he clarifies that the 'river of Egypt' was not necessarily the Nile but a river east of it in that region (Clips 2, 5). He also highlights that the giving is in the past tense - 'I have given.'
Les points to verses 11 and 12 to show that this covenant was from God and God alone - to make sure Abram had nothing to do with the covenant responsibility, God put him out of the transaction (Clip 3). The Scripture records that a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and horror of great darkness fell upon him (Genesis 15:12).
Israel's Deed
Les introduces Genesis 15:7-18 as 'Israel's Deed,' a valid title transfer that is just as valid today as the day God issued it.
Abram asks for proof
Les shows Abram, though a man of faith, asked God for proof and explains that God's answer used the ancient Babylonian rules of real-estate transfer (Hammurabi).
God gives the deed
Les says God answered Abram's request by giving him the deed to the land in verses 10-18, deeding far more than the Mediterranean-to-Jordan strip.
The blood-covenant transfer
Les explains how pagans transferred real estate by killing animals, parting the carcasses to form a walkway, and making a blood covenant; God used this same custom with Abram and then put Abram to sleep so the covenant was God's alone.
Signing of Israel's deed
Les calls verses 10-18 'the signing of Israel's deed' and highlights the past-tense declaration in verse 18, 'Unto thy seed I have given this land.'
Title deed rites
Les explains God appeared to Abraham and literally went through the rites of transferring a title deed, then records the boundaries in verse 18.
Abram's human question
Les shows how Abram, though a man of faith, came right back with 'how do I know?' when God turned from numberless descendants to real estate.
God deeds it shortly
Les reviews Genesis 15:7 and notes God will deed the land to Abram 'in short order.'
Genesis 15:7: And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
God states the promise that Abram is to inherit the land of Canaan.
Genesis 15:8: And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
Abram asks God for proof that he will indeed inherit the land.
Genesis 15:9: And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
God commands the specific animal sacrifices used in the title-deed covenant ceremony.
Genesis 15:10: And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
Abram divides the larger animals and leaves the birds whole, forming the walkway of the ceremony.
Genesis 15:12: And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Abram so the covenant would be God's alone.
Genesis 15:18: In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
God formally declares the land deeded to Abram's descendants, using the past tense 'have I given.'
Yes. Les emphasizes that Abram was a man of faith, yet just as human as we are. Even believers want assurance, and Abram asked God for proof that he would inherit the land. God did not rebuke him but gave him the deed.
God told Abram to bring a heifer of three years old, a she-goat of three years old, a ram of three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon (Genesis 15:9). Abram divided the larger animals and laid the pieces one against another, but did not divide the birds.
God deeded the land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. Les notes this is far more than the narrow strip from the Mediterranean to the Jordan, and he clarifies that the 'river of Egypt' was not necessarily the Nile.
Les teaches that the deed is 'just as valid in 1992 as it was the day that God issued it.' He calls Genesis 15:10-18 'Israel's Deed,' showing that the covenant God made with Abram remains in effect.
Watch the Teaching: Israel’s Title Deed: Understanding God's Covenant in Genesis 15