7 And He saith unto him, 'I 'am' Jehovah who brought thee out from Ur of the Chaldees, to give to thee this land to possess it;' 8 and he saith, 'Lord Jehovah, whereby do I know that I possess it?' 9 And He saith unto him, 'Take for Me a heifer of three years, and a she-goat of three years, and a ram of three years, and a turtle-dove, and a young bird;' 10 and he taketh to him all these, and separateth them in the midst, and putteth each piece over against its fellow, but the bird he hath not divided; 11 and the ravenous birds come down upon the carcases, and Abram causeth them to turn back.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 15:7-11
Commentary on Genesis 15:7-11
(Read Genesis 15:7-11)
Assurance was given to Abram of the land of Canaan for an inheritance. God never promises more than he is able to perform, as men often do. Abram did as God commanded him. He divided the beasts in the midst, according to the ceremony used in confirming covenants, Jeremiah 34:18,19. Having prepared according to God's appointment, he set himself to wait for the sign God might give him. A watch must be kept upon our spiritual sacrifices. When vain thoughts, like these fowls, come down upon our sacrifices, we must drive them away, and seek to attend on God without distraction.