Covenant

There is a scene in the book of Genesis where God enters into a covenant with Abram. Abram had no child. God himself enters into a covenant with him as a sign of His promises that he will bring about a great nation out of him and that God will give them the land.

God asks him to bring a three year old heifer, a three year old she goat, a three year old ram, a pigeon and a turtledove. Abram brought these, killed them and split each animal in two and placed the halves one facing the other. He didn't split the birds.

This is how covenants were ratified in those times. Then the parties who enter into the covenant must walk in between the split halves. A sign that breaching the covenant was equivalent to death.

After doing this Abram waited for God to arrive. At sunset, Abram fell into a trance. When it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch which passed between the split pieces of the animal (15:17). Thus God entered into a covenant with Abram.

Doesn't the same gripping experience come to mind as the entrance procession moves through the middle of the assembly towards the sanctuary on a Sunday with the censer moving in front followed by the cross accompanied by lighted candlesticks?