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Was the passage in Genesis 15:17-21 fulfilled?
Answer: Yes, it was. In Ancient Eastern culture, treaties were ratified by cutting an animal in half and letting each party walk through the divided carcass as a promise of their faithfulness to the treaty. It was a practical way of saying: “May he who breaks this covenant be like this animal – cut asunder.†See Jer. 34:18-19. In Gen. 15 God’s covenant to Abraham was that He would make his descendants like the stars of the heavens (Gen. 15:5), and give them possession of the land of Canaan (Gen. 15:18-20). To confirm His Word, God condescended to enter into a covenant with His servant in a way that he could understand. Abraham was directed to cut some animals in half (Gen. 15:9-10), which he seemingly walked through by day (Gen. 15:9-11). Later, when it was dark, God, in the form of a burning lamp ‘walked’ through these cut up animals, signifying His commitment to His own covenant.