When the sun had gone down, and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day, the LORD made a covenant with Abram. (Genesis 15:17-18)
The Whisperings:
On Sunday, we will hear the passage from Genesis chapter 15 where God promises Abram many descendants and also the Promised Land. It is a story filled with mystery and ritual. First God walks outside with Abram and promises this childless man that his descendants with outnumber the stars in the sky. After this, a strange ritual which involves cutting animals in half occurs, followed by Abram falling into a "deep and terrifying darkness." Finally, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch mysteriously appear and pass between the sections of the divided (now dead) animals while Abram is sleeping.
God works in strange ways. As liturgically focused Anglicans, perhaps we are most comfortable with predictable patterns of worship, and many of us have grown to expect God to appear while we are devoutly on our knees praying or receiving Eucharist at the rail. Yet the story in Genesis suggests that God is at work in the loneliest of outposts and in the most un-ecclesiastical of venues.
This week, look for God in the strange places. Review any "weird things" that you have witnessed. Have you seen any dancing firepots? Was God in that place?
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