Genesis 15:9, 10

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

Abram had asked for assurance. He believed the Lord, but here we see just how small that faith still was. It was real, but it was not strong. It was there, but it was still trembling. And that is exactly what makes this scene so beautiful. The Lord does not turn away from Abram because his faith is weak. He meets him right in the middle of it.

The Lord tells Abram to prepare what in that day was known as cutting covenant.

In Abram’s world, when two men entered into a solemn agreement, animals would be divided, and the parties would pass between the pieces. It was a way of saying, “If I do not keep my word, let me become like this sacrifice.” This was not a casual promise. This was not just ceremony for appearance’s sake. This was serious. This was life and death serious.

So when Abram asks, “How shall I know?” the Lord answers him in terms he would understand.

I love that.

Because it reminds me that God is not put off by a weak believer who needs reassurance. He is not irritated by a trembling heart that says, “Lord, I believe, but I need You to help me.” He knows how to come down to our level and strengthen us in ways we can understand.

That gives me a lot of hope.

Because there are times when I believe what God has said, and yet I still need Him to settle my heart. I know the promise is true, but sometimes my faith feels about the size of a mustard seed. Small. Fragile. Shaky. And yet the Lord does not despise mustard seed faith. He responds to it. He meets it. He strengthens it.

Abram prepares the pieces, but before this chapter is over, he is going to learn something deeper than he first realized. This covenant is not going to stand or fall on Abram’s ability to hold up his end. It is not going to rest on Abram’s strength, Abram’s consistency, or Abram’s resolve. It is going to rest on God.

That is where all of our hope is found too.

If everything depended on me, I would fail. If my standing with God rested on my ability to walk perfectly, to obey perfectly, to stay steady without wavering, I would have no confidence at all. But the good news is that God is the One who makes covenant, and God is the One who keeps covenant.

So this bloody scene is not just an ancient custom. It is a picture of grace. It is the Lord stooping down to assure a man whose faith is real, but still shallow. It is God saying, “Abram, your confidence will not finally be in yourself. It will be in Me.”

And that is still the message for us.

Our hope is not in the strength of our grip on God. Our hope is in the strength of His grip on us. Our confidence is not in how great our faith is, but in how faithful He is. That is why even trembling believers can rest. The covenant stands, not because we are strong, but because He is.