The Covenant Fulfilled — One of the most extraordinary lessons in the bible… with an “Aha!” moment.
- RJ Boatman Ministries
- Dec 26, 2024
- 4 min read
The Covenant Fulfilled: From Abraham’s Path to Calvary’s Cross
By RJBoatman Revival Ministries
Introduction
The concept of covenant is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating God’s unchanging faithfulness to His people. One of the most profound covenants begins with Abraham in Genesis 15 and culminates in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This lesson reveals the extraordinary lengths God goes to secure His promises and redeem humanity.
The Lesser’s Burden
In ancient times, when a covenant was made between a greater and a lesser party, the terms were unyielding.
The lesser (often a servant or vassal) was required to prove their commitment by walking a bloody path between the halved pieces of sacrificial animals. This act carried an unrelenting curse: “May I be ripped apart, like these animals, if I fail to uphold this covenant.”
For the lesser party, it was a moment of trembling. To falter in their obligations meant certain death.
This was the weight of covenant-making, a weight that now fell on Abraham, the lesser in his agreement with Almighty God. An agreement that his descendants would become as numerous as the stars and blessed indeed!
The Promises (and requirement) of the Abrahamic Covenant
• Land: God promised to give Abraham and his descendants a specific land to inhabit (Genesis 12:7).
• Protection: God vowed to protect Abraham and his descendants.
• Descendants: God pledged that Abraham and Sarah would have a child, fulfilling the promise of a lineage (Genesis 17:16).
• Blessing: God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants, declaring that those who bless them will be blessed, and those who curse them will be cursed (Genesis 12:2–3).
• *Circumcision: As a symbol of the covenant, God commanded Abraham and his male descendants to practice circumcision (Genesis 17:10–11).
• Nation: God assured Abraham that his descendants would grow into a great nation (Genesis 12:2).
• Inheritance: God guaranteed an eternal inheritance of the Promised Land for Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:8).
• Posterity: God promised Abraham innumerable offspring, comparing them to the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky (Genesis 13:16, 15:5).
God’s Instructions to Abraham
One night, God spoke to Abraham, calling him to a covenant. He commanded him:
“Bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” (Genesis 15:9)
Abraham obeyed. He gathered the animals, cut them into halves, and arranged the pieces opposite each other, forming a blood-soaked walkway. The scene was both solemn and terrifying.
Abraham knew what was expected. As the lesser party, it would fall to him to walk the path, invoking the curse upon himself should he or his descendants fail to keep the covenant.
God Walks Alone
As night fell, a thick and dreadful darkness descended on Abraham. God caused him to fall into a deep sleep, rendering him unable to walk the path. Helpless and immobilized, Abraham could do nothing but slumber as God took the covenant upon Himself.
In the form of a smoking firepot and a flaming torch (representing both His judgement and His holiness), God Himself passed between the pieces. The covenant was sealed, but not in the usual way. By walking Himself, God declared that He alone would bear the weight of the covenant.
God knew mankind’s frailty. He knew that Abraham’s descendants would fail again and again to uphold their end of the agreement. Yet, in His infinite mercy, God took the responsibility upon Himself. The curse of the covenant (the penalty for sin) would fall not on Abraham or his descendants, but on God.
The Path to Calvary
This moment in Genesis 15 wasn’t just a covenant; it was a promise that pointed forward to a greater fulfillment. Centuries later, God Himself would come to earth in the form of a man — Jesus Christ.
When humanity broke the covenant, as God knew they would, the curse had to be carried out. Blood had to be shed. The penalty for sin had to be paid. But instead of humanity bearing the punishment, God, in His boundless love, stepped into human history to take it upon Himself.
Fulfillment in Christ
On the cross, Jesus fulfilled the curse of the covenant. His body was ripped and torn, like the animals in Abraham’s covenant.
His blood was spilled, completing the punishment for humanity’s failures. The cross became the ultimate fulfillment of God’s walk through the pieces.
• Where Abraham had been spared, Jesus was not.
• Where mankind faltered, Jesus stood firm.
• Where the curse demanded death, Jesus gave His life.
The covenant that began with Abraham was completed at Calvary. God’s faithfulness prevailed, ensuring that the promises of the covenant — blessing, redemption, and eternal life — would be available to all who believe.
The Aha Moment
The bloody path through the animals was never meant for Abraham. It was always meant for God. From the very beginning, He knew that mankind could never uphold their end of the agreement.
From the creation of man, God knew the cost… and He was willing to pay it.
At the cross, the covenant came full circle. The One (True God), who walked the bloody path, bore the curse so that we could receive the eternal blessing of life everlasting.
Our Response
This truth should ignite our faith and deepen our trust in God’s promises. As Abraham trusted in God’s provision, so can we rest in the finished work of Christ, who bore the curse to grant us eternal life.
Learn More: RJBoatmanMinistries.org
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