Could The Bad Guy Win?
Have you ever seen a movie where the bad guy wins? Not just wins a battle, but in the end the bad guy actually defeats the good guy? The first time I saw a movie like that was when I was 6 or 7 years old. I remember that it basically assaulted my whole view of the world. I couldn’t believe that it was possible for the good guy to lose! I mean, could the Joker actually defeat Batman? Would Lex eventually figure out a way to destroy Superman for good? Surely Voldemort wouldn’t kill Harry…right?? That movie opened the door for me to question at the beginning of every story, “Will the good guy make it out ok and defeat the bad guy?” Because now I knew that it was possible that he might not.
The Bad Guy in Our Story
We meet the bad guy in the story of the whole world in Genesis 3. The serpent comes into the story and is clearly the bad guy. He gets all of humanity at the time to doubt God, to question God’s words, and forget His goodness. In just a short conversation, all of humanity sides with the bad guy instead of God. This is a decision that we are all feeling the effects of right now. When we experience injustice, brokenness, pain, betrayal, and evil in this world, it is because we sided with the enemy instead of God. And the fact that there IS a bad guy raises the question: Could the bad guy win in the end of the our story?
Could The Bad Guy Win?
Abram must have been wondering that same thing in Genesis 14. By this point, Abram had stepped out in faith and left everything to follow God and believe God’s promises. But even though Abram had a ton of faith, he was still a knucklehead. He lived like he was in control of the story so often (going to Egypt without asking God, lying about his wife, eventually sinning with Hagar). But God kept promising Abram that He would bless him. Well, at some point, Abram wondered if it would ever actually happen. Because he knew that he still sided with the enemy sometimes (the evidence was clear!). After God promised Abram blessing once again, Abram asked, “O Lord God, How am I to know that I shall possess it?” (Gen. 15:8). Abram wanted to know how he could be SURE that God would fulfill His promise. We could ask the same question. How can we be SURE that God will win in the end of our story?
A Guarantee Of Victory
To answer Abram’s question, God asked him to bring several animals. Abram would have understood what this was for. Because this was a common custom during this time in Abram’s homeland. Whenever two people would seal a promise or a covenant, they’d kill a donkey, divide it into two halves, and then arrange those halves so that they could walk together between that dead animal. They would do this to show how serious the commitment they were making was. What they were saying was, “If I break my word, may I be like this dead animal.” They were basically placing a curse on themselves if either of them would break the promise. Too bad we don’t do this anymore. Can you imagine calling T-Mobile to cancel your contract, “Alright, we’ll send over someone to make you like that donkey!” Then God does something incredible. God gives Abram a vision where he sees this smoking fire pot and flaming torch. This is a visual representation of God. And Abram sees God move up and down the isle that’s lined with the animal parts.
I can’t imagine how amazed and stoked Abram must have been! Because God didn’t ask Abram to walk through those animal halves with him. It was God alone. This was God answering Abram’s question, “How do I KNOW that you really are going to do all that you promised? How do I know you really ARE going to defeat the enemy and bless the whole world?” This is God’s answer. God is holding HIMSELF responsible to keep that promise, or else God himself would be like those butchered animals. He says, “Abram, I will do it, and it all depends on me!”
Thankfully, you can trust that your salvation doesn’t depend on you. Just like God’s promise didn’t depend on Abram. Your salvation depends on Jesus, and Jesus completed God’s plan. You can trust that. You can rest in that. If you believe that, nothing can separate you from it. Through fear, and doubt, and sin, you can trust Jesus as your Savior, your victorious hero.