When ancient people make treaties, there is usually a "sealing the deal" ritual - something that binds the party to their promise.
When God entered into his friendship agreement with Abraham, Abraham was told to gather several animals, and split them in half. In the usual custom, the treaty making parties would walk between the animal halves to seal their promise - with the understanding that the party failed to keep their promise would end up like the dead animals. In Abraham's case, God put him to sleep so he couldn't walk through. God walk through alone, because God knows that only he can keep such a big promise.
The first thing the people said when Moses told them their half of the promise, was "we will do whatever God asks." So Moses began building an altar for the promise sealing ritual.
Moses get to represent the Hebrews before God, although the leaders of the community are there to witness it nearby. The ritual itself involves the blood of a sacrificial animal - it is at the same time a gift to God expressing gratitude, a scapegoat dying for the sins of the people, and a sign of the promise between God and people.
Write
Think about your faith story: what are some promises you have made with God? How well have you kept them? How well has God kept his promises to you - to love you, supply your needs, direct you, and forgive you?
In your life presently, what promise to God would you like to keep better? What would help you keep your promise to God?
Who do you know has broken faith with God?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about promises. Thank God for the way he keeps his promises to you, and the way he helps you keep your promises to him, and the way he forgives you when you fail.
Pray about the promises you are trying to keep Ask God for he wisdom and support to be faithful to God and to people.
Pray for your friend who needs to start over with God. Ask God for the wisdom and support to support your friend to come back again.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he keeps his promises to you, and the way he helps you keep your promises to him, and the way.way he forgives you.