Genesis 15: Where There's Smoke...

In the previous chapter, Abram saved Lot, but he does not reunite with Lot. After securing his nephew’s freedom, Abram returns without Lot, removing himself from his father's family, achieving that elusive fourth goal discussed earlier. Withthe goals intact, God returns to Abram to make another grand promise in chapter 15. Abram’s offspring will be numerous like the stars in the sky and they willinherit the land of Canaan.English: “Look toward heaven and count thestars, if you are able to count them… So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis15:5)Hebrew: הַבֶּט־נָא הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וּסְפֹר הַכּוֹכָבִים אִם־תּוּכַל לִסְפֹּר אֹתָם… כֹּה יִהְיֶה זַרְעֶךָAbram, though, challenges God. These grand promises are meaningless without offspring. In response, God instructs Abram to perform a sacrificial ceremony known as thecovenant of the parts. This ceremony is reminiscent of the active prophecies that are the feature of the age of prophets centuries later.English: “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.’”(Genesis 15:7)Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי ה אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים לָתֶת לְךָ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לְרִשְׁתָּהּOne verse in particular is mysterious:English: “When the sun set and it was very dark, there appeared a smoking oven, and a flaming torch which passed between those pieces.” (Genesis 15:17)Hebrew: וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בּוֹא וַעֲלָה חֲשֵׁכָה גְדֹלָה וְהִנֵּה תַנּוּר עָשָׁן וְלַפִּיד אֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר עָבַר בֵּין הַגְּזָרִים הָאֵלֶּהThe way the verse is written, it sounds like Abram witnesses these events happen, but he did not walk through the pieces. Why does he see these images? If we connect the earlier warning from God, we may be able to deduce its meaning.English: “Know for certain that your offspring will be strangers in a land not theirs, and they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.” (Genesis 15:13)Hebrew: יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע כִּי־גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם וַעֲבָדוּם וְעִנּוּ אֹתָם אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָהThe implication is that this is referring to the slavery in Egypt and then they will be saved. (Why God doesn’t tell Abram it will be Egypt is a whole different question). But leaving Egypt was not the end of the story. God also had to show Abram that he would protect the Israelites after they are freed.That is done in the wilderness through the protection of the Cloud of Glory and the fire. This is most likely the meaning behind Abram’s vision. In the darkest part of the Exodus, God shows Abram that God will be there with smoke and fireto protect Abram’s descendants.