What's Going on in Jeremiah?

In Genesis 15, Abram asks the Lord to give him evidence that he's going to keep his promises. But then things get a little bit strange when animals are cut in half and vultures aren't driven away. Jim Boulden: The image evoked the sort of brooms walking around holding pales of water from "Fantasia" He says God makes these kinds of promises through covenantal commitments so for God to make this kind of promise is unusual.