The Abrahamic Covenant

I. The promise of a great nation

a. Physical possessions

Genesis 12:1-2a “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation,

Genesis 15:18-21 “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Genesis 13:14-17 “The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.””

b. Offspring too numerous to count

Genesis 15:4-6“And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

Genesis 17:1-2 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.””

II. The promise of a great name

Genesis 12:2b I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

Genesis 17:5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.”

Abram’s new name sets a new life trajectory

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

III. The promise of blessings and cursings

Genesis 12:3a “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse,

Laying the foundation of the Mosaic Covenant

Galatians 3:19 “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.”

IV. The promise of restoration

Genesis 12:3b in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

Genesis 22:18 “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.””