God’s Everlasting Covenant Promise with Abraham

God’s Everlasting Covenant Promise with Abraham

By

Bruce A. Proctor

Gen. 12:1-3 – Based on a Promise Around 2021 BC

“Separate yourself” and “I will show you a land” (vs. 1)

Abraham will

(vs. 2)

• Be a great nation -a

• Be a blessing - b

• Have a great name - c

• Be a blessing to all families of the earth – d (reiterated in vs. 3b)

(vs. 3)

• Be protected by the law of Les Talionis (3a)

• And in him “all the families of the earth will be blessed" (vs. 3b)

The Promise Repeated

Gen. 13:14-17

• The land

Gen. 15:2-21

• A son (vv. 2-6)

• The land (vv. 7-8, 18-21)

• A prophetic announcement (vv. 13-16)

• The oath (vv. 9-12, 17)

Gen. 17:2, 4-7

• The covenant established (v. 2a)

• The multiplication of descendants (v. 2b)

• The covenant with Abraham (v. 4a)

• The father of a multitude of Jewish nations (vv. 4b-6)

• The covenant will be everlasting throughout Abraham time and that of all his descendants (vv. 7-9)

The Scripture repeatedly asserts that God’s covenant of promise was between Him and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel [Gen. 35:10]). This is supported by the following: Gen. 28:13-16; 32:9; 35:10 (Jacob called Israel), 12; 48:15-16; Ex. 3:6, 15-16; 4:5; 6:8; 32:13; 33:1; Num. 32:11; Deut. 1:8; 6:10; 9:5, 27; 29:13; 30:20; 34:4; 2 Kings 13:23; 1 Chr. 16:15-17; 29:18; 2 Chr. 30:6, etc.

God even remembered His covenant He made with Abraham (2021 BC) when the Israelites were being persecuted in Egypt five hundred years later in 1406 (Exodus 2:23-24).

_____________________________________________________________________

1.This son would be Isaac through whom the promise would be passed on to Jacob and his descendants (Gen.17:21; 21:12; Rom. 9:7; Heb. 11:18).

2.The writer of Hebrews indicated that the oath was unnecessary but was made to confirm the promise (Heb. 6:13-19).

3.Ishmael has no part in this covenant (17:18-21).