Genesis 15:17

Gen. 15:17. "Behold a smoking furnace and a burning lamp passes between those pieces." The smoking furnace, I am ready to think, signified the same as fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices, that is, the wrath of God in the midst of Jesus Christ. The furnace passed between the pieces, that is, as it were, through the midst of them. The burning lamp which followed was a fire of another nature; it was a clear bright light; whereas the other, though exceeding hot like a furnace, was all smoking. This signified the Holy Ghost, who is often compared to fire; and the lamp signified that light, glory, and blessedness which followed Christ's enduring wrath, and was purchased by it, both for himself and for his people. And doubtless this also has respect to the church in Egypt of Abraham's seed, and signified those things that God was now telling Abraham in his deep sleep. The smoking furnace signified their suffering grievous persecutions and afflictions in Egypt, which is called the iron furnace; and the shining lamp signified their glorious deliverance in the fourth generation, and being brought into the land of Canaan, Isaiah 62:1. "And the salvation thereof shall be as a lamp that burneth." The birds coming down, that Abraham frayed away, were to typify the devils, and their endeavors to devour Jesus Christ and the church; this thing may also signify the terrors and consolations that attend the wish of conversion and deliverance out of spiritual Egypt.

Genesis 15:17. "And it came to pass, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces." Here were four things that were significant of the death and last sufferings of Christ, all at the same time.

1. There were the sacrifices that were slain, and lay there dead and divided. Christ feared when his last passion approached, lest Satan should utterly devour him, and swallow him up in that trial, and cried to God, and was heard in that he feared; and those fowls were frayed away that sought to devour that sacrifice, as Abraham frayed away the fowls that attempted to devour this sacrifice while it lay upon the altar.

2. The smoking furnace that passed through the midst of the sacrifices.

3. The deep sleep that fell upon Abraham, and the horror of great darkness that fell upon him.

4. The sun, that greatest of all natural types of Christ, went down, and descended under the earth, and it was dark. "It is probable this furnace and lamp which passed between the pieces, burned and consumed them, and so completed the sacrifice, and testified God's acceptance of it, Judges 6:21; Judges 13:19; Judges 13:20 and 2 Chronicles 7:7. This was of old God's manner of manifesting his acceptance of sacrifices, viz. kindling a fire from heaven upon them; 'and by this we may know that he accepts our sacrifices, if we kindle in our souls a lively fire of divine affections in them.'" Henry.

Gen. 16:10-12