COVENANTS SESSION 5
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
Hebrews 2:1 (AMP) - 1 SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.
Hebrews 2:1 (NASB95) - 1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
This is an admonition that we should hold to the truths that we have learned, not letting them seep out of us through non-use, or ignoring them. We shouldn’t take for granted that once learned is learned forever, just as we have forgotten most of the things we were taught in school. Remembering this, we shouldn’t assume that what we learn in The Word is going to remain there forever without our refreshing it, and studying it more. The things we learn about covenant are not something that will automatically stay with it, it is something that we need to refresh ourselves in during the years ahead so that we can retain the promises covenant contains.
Genesis 12:1-7 (NKJV) - 1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
A man in Ur of Chaldees stepped out on faith and followed the only True God and began his journey of faith. He met the Lord and received promises which caused him to begin having faith in the One he was beginning to follow. Not doing all the Lord commanded, leaving family, and going, but he did go and God honored that step of faith in his life.
Genesis 17:1-2 (NLT) - 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”
From Elohim to El Shaddai. Before the last half of verse 1 Abram had always dealt with Elohim, suddenly he comes face to face with El Shaddai. In Genesis 15:5-18 the Lord God (Elohim) made a covenant with Abram that he would be live a long time, that his children would go to a strange land for 400 years and that his descendents were given the Promised Land. Abram questioned the Lord’s promise concerning a natural heir, so he and Sarai took it on themselves to help the Lord out and Ishmael was born. Notice that Abram didn’t hear from the Lord for the next 13 years probably because of this. Then in Genesis 17:1 the Lord appears to Abram as Elohim and then changes to El-Shaddai. Elohim the God of Creation, the Possessor of all things. El Shaddai the Almighty One, the Breasty One, the God of ‘I can supply all the needs of all my children and do it more than enough’ One. These are two descriptions of two of God’s Holy Names, however there is another description that can be added to these, they are: Elohim – the One who makes nature, who causes it to be, who preserves it, the One who established all natural law; El Shaddai – the One who reserves the right to reverse natural law, to override it, to accelerate it as He deems necessary for His own, He has power to constrain nature, to make it do what is against itself. So here in Genesis 17:1-17 we have Abram meeting Elohim and suddenly facing El Shaddai, he goes from Abram to Abraham and Sarai goes to Sarah. When we are in covenant with the Father we have all of the attributes of His available to us, if it can’t be done within the natural then it is time for the supernatural, if Elohim can’t do it then El Shaddai can. In our walk with the Lord we are like Abram, knowing Elohim and the wonders of His presence, but then along the walk we come to know Him as El Shaddai and the power of His might.
Genesis 17:1-17 (NLT) - 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” 3 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, 4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! 7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.” 9 Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 10 This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. 13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of My everlasting covenant. 14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.” 15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.” 17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”
In reading this, the previous verses, we could ask ourselves “Why Abraham?”. It would be a legitimate question, what was it about this son of an idol worshipper (Joshua 24:2) that caused the Lord to stop and select him. Here is a man whose father, Terah, was born within 320 years of the flood. When Terah was 70 years old he had Abram, then he had Nahor and Haran. After Abram met and married Sarai in Ur of the Chaldees, Terah was moving his entire family to Canaan however he died in Haran prior to reaching Canaan. Here the Lord speaks to Abram and says “Get you out!” So Abram obeyed the voice of God, and taking Lot with him, in violation of what the Lord told him, he departed and headed for Canaan. Solely on the word of God. You might ask “Why do you think it was Abram that heard from the Lord and not Terah, since Terah started the journey toward Canaan?” Joshua 24:2 is one of the few places that Terah is mentioned other than in speaking of a genealogical guide, there it mentions him as living on the other side of the river and being an idol worshipper. Then in Genesis 12:1 we see the Lord telling Abram to leave Haran. Nehemiah 9:7 does mention that God chose Abram in Ur of the Chaldees and changed his name to Abraham, so Terah was doing what the Lord wanted done, the question is “Was he aware of it?” The Lord had chosen well.
We need to keep in mind the following scripture as we continue on with this study:
Galatians 3:29 (AMP) - 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3:29 (NLT) - 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
There are at least Seven Things About Abraham that we should know and discuss.
First, The LORD prophesied Abraham would become a great nation.
Genesis 12:2 (AMP) - 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
A question that comes to my mind is “Are all of God’s promises to us prophesies for us?”
Second, God protected Abraham in this covenant.
Genesis 12:3 (AMP) - 3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].
We have a covenant protection because Abraham had one and we are his seed.
Third, God promised the land to Abraham’s descendents.
Genesis 15:18-21 (AMP) - 18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates—the land of 19 The Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 The Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 The Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
Fourth, God honored Abraham’s faith and sacrifice.
Genesis 12:7 (NLT) - 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
God, according to Acts 10:34, is not a respecter of persons, so what is available to Abraham through faith, and sacrifice, is available to us.
Fifth, all the families of the earth are to be blessed because of Abraham.
Genesis 28:14 (NLT) - 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.
Sixth, God will bless those who blessed Abraham’s seed.
Genesis 12:3 (AMP) - 3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].
Seventh, God was to curse those who cursed Abraham’s seed.
Genesis 12:3 (AMP) - 3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].
In these verses we see that God was pleased with Abraham and with his faith response. He was so pleased that He promised to provide these things not only to Abraham but to those who are to “become the seeds of Abraham.”
Galatians 3:29 (AMP) - 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.
Some people think that the blessings of Abraham apply to Arab and Jew, however according to Genesis 17:18-21 the promise follows only Isaac.
Genesis 17:18-21 (NLT) - 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!” 19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”
Abraham is known as the Father of Faith. That is a big, bold title and one hard to obtain. Following is three things that helped Abraham prove his faith:
First, Abraham did not allow earthly situations to separate him from God.
Genesis 13:8-9 (NASB95) - 8 So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. 9 "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left."
Next, his faith was tested, tempted and tried.
Genesis 17:17 (NLT) – 17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”
I have another question “If we accept the Lord and it causes us to lose our families is that the same thing that Abraham faced in offering Isaac?”
Finally, he proved himself faithful in the case of Isaac
Genesis 22:7-8 (NASB95) - 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
Then we come to the Seven-fold Promises God made to Abraham in his covenant. I need to point out, not only his, but ours as well because it is an eternal covenant and we are Abraham’s seed.
Promise 1 – God promised to make him a great nation.
Genesis 12:2 (AMP) - 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
Genesis 13:16 (AMP) - 16 And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted.
Promise 2 – God promised to bless him.
Genesis 12:2 (AMP) - 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
Genesis 13:14-17 (NLT) - 14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”
Genesis 15:18-21 (NLT) - 18 So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River— 19 the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
Promise 3 – Abraham’s name would become great.
Genesis 12:2 (AMP) - 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
Exodus 2:24 (NASB95) - 24 So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Exodus 6:3-8 (AMP) - 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty [El-Shaddai], but by My name the Lord [Yahweh—the redemptive name of God] I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles]. 4 I have also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their temporary residence in which they were strangers. 5 I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians have enslaved; and I have [earnestly] remembered My covenant [with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]. 6 Accordingly, say to the Israelites, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their bondage, and I will rescue you with an outstretched arm [with special and vigorous action] and by mighty acts of judgment. 7 And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that it is I, the Lord your God, Who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 And I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up My hand and swore that I would give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage. I am the Lord [you have the pledge of My changeless omnipotence and faithfulness].
Promise 4 – Abraham would become a blessing.
Genesis 12:2 (AMP) - 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
Galatians 3:13-14 (NLT) - 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
Promise 5 – God will bless people who bless Abraham.
Genesis 12:3 (AMP) - 3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].
Genesis 41:41 (NLT) - 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”
Daniel 6:3 (AMP) - 3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Promise 6 – God will curse the people who curse Abraham.
Genesis 12:3 (AMP) - 3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].
Zechariah 14:12 (NLT) - 12 And the Lord will send a plague on all the nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away. Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
Promise 7 – All the families of the earth will be blessed because of Abraham.
Genesis 12:3 (NLT) - 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Isaiah 60:1-5 (NLT) - 1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. 2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. 3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. 4 “Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. 5 Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands.
Deuteronomy 28:8-13 (NASB95) - 8 "The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 9 "The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10 "So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you. 11 "The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 "The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 "The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,
Deuteronomy 28:8-13 (AMP) - 8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. 9 The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name [and in the presence of] the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.
