Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward.”

But Abram said, “O Lord God, what can you give me, seeing that I continue childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damacus?” And Abram added, “Look, you have given me no children, so now a servant born in my house will be my heir.”

But then the word of the Lord came to him saying, “This man shall not be your heir, only your own flesh and blood shall be your heir.” And God lead him outside and said, “Look now at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And God said, “So shall your descendants be.” So Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

And God said to Abram, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land as an inheritance.”

But Abram answered, “Lord God, how shall I know that I shall inherit it?”

And God said to him, “Fetch me a heifer, three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And Abram brought all these to him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite of the other; but he did not cut the birds in half. And when the birds of prey lit upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and behold a great and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

And it came to pass that when the sun had gone down, and there was a deep darkness, a smoking fire pot and a burning torch passed between the remains. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”