God's Covenant with Abraham

An agreement between two parties that specifies requirements for at least one party, and includes blessing and curses for obedience or failure.

God had made several covenants that we can see in the Bible. Although they we’re not made directly to us their truth and ramifications effect us!

Today we are going to look at the life of a very special person named Abraham! Abraham is special in the fact that God made a covenant with him and this covenant actually effects us today!

The Covenant

Genesis 15:1-7 “1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”

This occurs when Abram is about 75 years old

He has followed God from his homeland

This comes after a big battle

Genesis 15:8 “8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?”

Abraham asks for a sign

Genesis 15:9–11 “9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.”

God instructs Abram

Genesis 15:12–16 “12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”

God finds Abraham in a scared sleepy stooper

He tells Abraham that: You will live a long life, and he will have a lot of kids.

He will become a nation

Genesis 15:17 “17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.”

God shows a sign

This is an amazing story that has real significance for us to this very day!

The Covenant

It was by Grace

Genesis 15:4-7 “4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”

God would do all the work.

More than Abraham deserved or would do

All it required from Abraham was faith

Gen 15:6

He’d receive

The promised land

He’d become a great nation

He’d become a blessing to all

The fulfilling

God always keeps his promises!

Romans 4:21

The Nation- Israel

The Land- Canaan/Promised Land

The Blessing to All- Jesus

Mat 1:1

How it affects us

Everyone who is saved reaps blessing from this covenant! Although it is not to us we are still affected!

Galatians 3:6-9

That blessing was Jesus and his Gospel!

John 3:16

We can learn faith from this account

Romans 4:13

We learn that God is faithful!

2 Tim 2:13