3-year old animals - Abram's covenant with God

[~Anastasia~]

I was listening to a podcast that was talking about Abram's covenant with God, and the part where God asks Abram to choose a heifer and a goat 3-years old (along with the birds), split them, etc. as part of God establishing His covenant with Abram.

I was thinking too about the generations of Abraham -

Abraham,
1st generation - the promised son - Isaac
2nd generation - Jacob (Jacob I have loved, as opposed to Esau I have hated, Esau despised his birthright - which would have been the promise of God wouldn't it?)
3rd generation - the sons of Jacob comprising the tribes of Israel, through whom the promise began to be fulfilled

So ... I know everything is for a reason. I was just curious if the animals being 3-years old specifically could have had anything at all (being a unit of time, and the number 3) to do with a connection to generations (being essentially the passage of time, and the number 3) with showing prophetically what would come to pass in the fulfilling of the covenant with Abram - since God was telling him many things about the future and how that would come about.

It's just idle wondering really, and not that important. We are after all on this end of it looking back, and we know what happened. I'm just wondering if this kind of foreshadowing is something the Church teaches? I'm familiar with all kinds of types and shadows, but I wasn't sure if this kind of thing was valid as well, or if it was part of the Church's teaching?

I hope that makes sense?

 

[ArmyMatt]

very well could be. usually anything that points to God is how the Scriptures are read. I would run this one by your priest and I think the answer would be interesting.

but it makes sense to me.

 

[Winken]

Long ago a land treaty was ratified by sacrificing animals, separating them pathwise, then walking that path. This covenant in blood was the promise of the parties to keep the treaty. Abraham was to do this with regard to the Covenant. However, whlle he was asleep, God Himself walked the path, completing and sealing the covenant, keeping His Promise to Himself and Abraham. No one outside of God Himself could make and keep that promise.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Long ago a land treaty was ratified by sacrificing animals, separating them pathwise, then walking that path. This covenant in blood was the promise of the parties to keep the treaty. Abraham was to do this with regard to the Covenant. However, whlle he was asleep, God Himself walked the path, completing and sealing the covenant, keeping His Promise to Himself and Abraham. No one outside of God Himself could make and keep that promise.

Thank you. But the question would be then whether the animals need be three years old, and if so, then when was this established and why?

Thank you for the information.

 

[~Anastasia~]

very well could be. usually anything that points to God is how the Scriptures are read. I would run this one by your priest and I think the answer would be interesting.

but it makes sense to me.

Thanks, Matt. I'll have to ask him.

 

[Winken]

Thank you. But the question would be then whether the animals need be three years old, and if so, then when was this established and why?

The ministry of Jesus was for three years, then came the blood sacrifice at the crucifixion. That sacrifice provided the pathway that only Jesus could walk, thereby sealing the mission ordained by God and fulfilled by Him.

 

[~Anastasia~]

The ministry of Jesus was for three years, then came the blood sacrifice at the crucifixion. That sacrifice provided the pathway that only Jesus could walk, thereby sealing the mission ordained by God and fulfilled by Him.

True. An even better point. Thank you.

 

[Hank77]

I was thinking in regards to livestock animals that the first year they are growing to maturity, second year the farmer will breed them, and the third year they produce new life.

Then I have read that Jews have a method about starting a successful business which is based on the three year system. The first year one can lose money, the second year it should break even, the third year it should make a profit.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I was thinking in regards to livestock animals that the first year they are growing to maturity, second year the farmer will breed them, and the third year they produce new life.

Then I have read that Jews have a method about starting a successful business which is based on the three year system. The first year one can lose money, the second year it should break even, the third year it should make a profit.

And I should know that (about the animals) by experience. Though due to acrobatic animals and sometimes fencing being wanting, I sometimes got the "new life" before the third year. It's not ideal for the animals though.