"Genesis and Other Things"
Lesson Eleven - Abraham - The Covenant
Moderated by Bob Huddlestun
Last time we looked at the call of Abram as recorded in Genesis 12:1, where the LORD had said to Abram, "Leave
your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." In verses two and
three God added several promises that would be Abram's if he obeyed the LORD's command.
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you
will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all
peoples of the earth will be blessed through you."
After Abram parted company with his nephew Lot (chapter 13), fulfilling the last of God's requirements when
He called him out of Ur, the LORD spoke to Abram again. This time He promised Abram, without condition, the land he
was dwelling in, as far as he could see in every direction. He also stated that this promise included his descendants, who
would be like the dust of the earth in number (Genesis 13:14f).
How could this be? Abram was an alien in the land. Though he was becoming a rich man he still lived in a tent,
wandering from place to place. To compound the problem he had no children and was married to a woman unable to have
children. It's no wonder he questioned this possibility.
So, once again, the LORD spoke to him to verify the promises and reassure a perplexed pilgrim (Read chapter
15). This time God is very specific: "A son coming from your own body will be your heir" (verse 4). Abram
believed the LORD. He still didn't know how it could happen, but if the LORD said it would be, it will surely
come to pass. "That is the mark of true faith - steadfast trust in God, despite darkness and disappointment, and
despite the fact that circumstances all point in the opposite direction." (Dr. J.H.Hertz, ed. The Pentateuch and
Haftorahs, Soncino Press, London, 1958, pg. 54)
God was also specific regarding the land Abram and his descendants would receive. No longer was it just as far as he
could see, but physical boundaries were established, ". . . from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates"
(verse 18). To confirm this covenant God chose to use a ceremony long established among the people for ratifying
agreements (vv. 8-17). According to the N.I.V. study notes the parties involved would walk between the slaughtered
animals signifying, "May it be so done to me if I do not keep my oath and pledge." The smoking firepot with a blazing
torch represented the LORD.
This covenant was confirmed again to Abram in chapter 17:1-8. This time God informs him that this was to be an
everlasting agreement with Abraham (his new name) and his descendants throughout their generations. The LORD later
repeated this covenant to Abraham's son Isaac (Genesis 26:1-6) and grandson Jacob (Genesis 28:10-15, and
35:11-13).
Let's examine these promises more closely.
1. "I will make you into a great nation" (Genesis 12:2). Following the sojourn in Egypt,
prophesied by the LORD to Abram (Genesis 15:13), the Children of Israel (descendants of
Jacob, Abraham's grandson) became that nation, conquering and inhabiting the land of promise.
Later, under the leadership of King David, even more so under King Solomon, Israel became a
world power. Israel today would probably not be considered "great" by world standards, but its
very existence demonstrates God's continued guidance. The scriptures promise a time yet
future when that nation will be exalted as chief among the nations of the world (Isaiah 2:1-5;
Ezekiel 37:21-28; Zechariah 14:16-21)
2. "I will make your name great." Abraham is honored by the members of three great religions
- Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Each trace their roots to him.
3. "I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse." A cursory study of
European history proves this to be true. Those nations that welcomed the Jews prospered while
those that persecuted them eventually suffered. Nazi Germany is one example.
4. "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 22:18 makes this point a little
clearer by saying, "Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you
have obeyed me." The world has been blessed inordinately by the Jewish people, the natural
seed of Abraham, in areas of finance, science, and the arts. The Jewish Scriptures have set the
tone for many governmental and justice systems. The Jews have also blessed the world by
demonstrating, in spite of their best efforts, the wisdom of serving God. However, the Apostle
Paul notes, "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not
say, 'and to seeds', meaning many people, but 'and to your seed', meaning one person, who is
Christ" (Galatians 3:16). It is through Jesus, the Christ, that the greatest blessings come.
Paul goes on to say in this chapter (verse 29) "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise." Thus, while the natural seed, the Jews, have been and
will continue to be blessed because of Abraham's faithfulness, so also will the spiritual
seed, those who believe in Jesus and make him LORD of their lives.
5. The last part of the promise involves the land. "The whole land of Canaan, where you are
now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after
you; and I will be their God" (Genesis 17:8). Abraham never received that promised land
(Hebrews 11:39). Neither did his son or grandson or great grandsons. In fact, Abraham
found it necessary to buy a small field from a Hittite resident for a place to bury his wife (See
Genesis 23. Later Abraham and his grandson Jacob were buried in the same cave). Abraham
died knowing that one day he would inherit the land, along with his descendants (Acts 7:5) and
many others who share his hope (Luke 13:28-29). It's important to note that "Heaven"
was never promised to Abraham or to his descendants (Matthew 5:5).
In Genesis 17:9-14 we learn that the circumcision of all males was to be a sign of this covenant. "For the generations
to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised" (verse 12). To this day Jewish families
continue this tradition, circumcising each boy child on the eighth day of his life, in a ceremony called the bris. But what
of the Christian? Must we also be circumcised? In Romans Four Paul argues that faith, not circumcision, garnered the
promises for Abraham. Hence, circumcision was to be a sign, an indication of faith in the promises and the God that
made them, not merely obedience to a rule (See also Romans 2:28-29). For the Christian baptism is that sign, again as an
act of faith not just obedience to a rule (See Colossians 2:11-15).
Jesus instructed his disciples just prior to his ascension to
"go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved"
(Mark 16:15). Baptism was to be an indication of belief, faith in the good news about Jesus Christ and the gospel of
the kingdom. Salvation involves sharing in that kingdom by sharing in the promises stated in this covenant.
"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those who call
themselves 'the circumcision' (that done in the body by the hands of men) - remember that at that time you were
separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and
without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the
blood of Christ. . . . Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people
and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the
chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:11-20).
Consider:
Bob Huddlestun
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