C
CSUNGerrie
Guest
7 He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”
8 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”
9 So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”
** 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away**.
I studied this passage several weeks back. The whole scene seems incredibly mystical. I come form the perspective that much if not all of the bible is both symbolic and literal at the same time. In my short time studying the Genesis one of the things that has stood out to me is its purposeful inclusion of certain details that although may seem meaningless at first, later are revealed to have been there for a good reason (like life). In Genesis 15:10-11 we hear of this act in which Abraham splits the animal bodies in two. My bible teacher informed me that this was an old Jewish tradition in which two person would walk in between the halves to symbolize a pact or promise.
However, in the second half of the passage, we hear that several birds of prey came down on the carcasses. At first glance, I think… dead animals… birds of prey…makes perfect sense. And yet, I cant help but wonder if there is more of a purpose for why this detail was included in the passage. I guess I wonder if these birds of pray were perhaps satanic forces trying to interrupt the covenant God was going to make with Abraham.
Or perhaps satanic forces trying to taint or taunt Abraham’s sacrifice for the covenant God was going to make with Abraham.
On a side note, I get a similar sentiment when I read of Hagar and Ishmael mocking Sarah in later passages. I mean… here you are a slave woman whose master just gave your child’s father the Son he dearly want. You would think Hagar would mind her manners but her behavior almost seems slightly motivated by satanic forces trying to mock the fruit of Abraham’s faith.
I mean… it could be simply a description of birds who where looking for a meal. But it just seems so mysterious that this passage would be included. I mean, the parts right before and the parts right after are among the most mystical parts of Genesis so birds trying to get a meal seems like it should have been something completely irrelevant and maybe not mentioned in the passage unless it was more than that.
What do you all think? Whether you agree or disagree… did anyone ever get this strange sentiment that there is more going on with verse 15:11?
8 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”
9 So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”
** 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away**.
I studied this passage several weeks back. The whole scene seems incredibly mystical. I come form the perspective that much if not all of the bible is both symbolic and literal at the same time. In my short time studying the Genesis one of the things that has stood out to me is its purposeful inclusion of certain details that although may seem meaningless at first, later are revealed to have been there for a good reason (like life). In Genesis 15:10-11 we hear of this act in which Abraham splits the animal bodies in two. My bible teacher informed me that this was an old Jewish tradition in which two person would walk in between the halves to symbolize a pact or promise.
However, in the second half of the passage, we hear that several birds of prey came down on the carcasses. At first glance, I think… dead animals… birds of prey…makes perfect sense. And yet, I cant help but wonder if there is more of a purpose for why this detail was included in the passage. I guess I wonder if these birds of pray were perhaps satanic forces trying to interrupt the covenant God was going to make with Abraham.
Or perhaps satanic forces trying to taint or taunt Abraham’s sacrifice for the covenant God was going to make with Abraham.
On a side note, I get a similar sentiment when I read of Hagar and Ishmael mocking Sarah in later passages. I mean… here you are a slave woman whose master just gave your child’s father the Son he dearly want. You would think Hagar would mind her manners but her behavior almost seems slightly motivated by satanic forces trying to mock the fruit of Abraham’s faith.
I mean… it could be simply a description of birds who where looking for a meal. But it just seems so mysterious that this passage would be included. I mean, the parts right before and the parts right after are among the most mystical parts of Genesis so birds trying to get a meal seems like it should have been something completely irrelevant and maybe not mentioned in the passage unless it was more than that.
What do you all think? Whether you agree or disagree… did anyone ever get this strange sentiment that there is more going on with verse 15:11?
