7 And 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." 8 He said , "O Lord GOD , how may I know that I will possess it?" 9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three year old heifer , and a three year old female goat , and a three year old ram , and a turtledove , and a young pigeon ." 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two , and laid each half opposite the other ; but he did not cut the birds . 11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses , and Abram drove them away .
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.