The Covenant of Abraham

Another genealogy!

This genealogy reflects the one in chapter 5 in many ways. But there is one thing that it omitted…the death notice for the family members. Why? It present’s God’s optimism under Abraham that things can be restored and that God will bless His people.

-10 generations are revealed between Adam and Noah, and now from Noah to Abram

The promise

What we see happen with Abram is that God will promise a people, a place, and a blessing.

God promises a land/country, there are blessings and curses towards those who come against him, God will make him into a nation, and he will have a great name. We have seen all of these throughout Genesis.

This is a reversal of Babel.

The righteous live by faith

When we meet Abram in this text he already is a wealthy man, someone who has earned a lot and had worshipped idols, who is older in his years. but now we see that God asks him to turn around his life.

God leads us to the path of righteousness by His Word

How does chapter 12 start off. Where have we seen “God said” before?

God’s people must trust God’s Word by faith

Who is the one initiating in v. 1-3? God! “I will”

Us being able to believe God will keep His Word, His promises, is a significant thing for us.

-Think about a world where we didn’t have God’s promises to comfort us.

-God’s promises are a part of God’s grace. It isn’t based on our action, but it is God’s personal desire to give blessings to His people.

But God living by His promise is part of his people.

-If God isn’t faithful, than all of time unravels. Without God’s promises the universe doesn’t exist. All the universe is held together by God’s promises.

-Therefore God’s Word gives us a stable reality to believe in.

Hebrews 6:13–18 “For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.”

Trusting in God isn’t ignorant, it isn’t just “believe what my parents say”, it is willing to wait on God’s good things even when others don’t believe it.

God’s Word leads to blessing

God will make Abram’s name “great”, is a contrast to Babel. Great through adoption by God.

Hebrews 6:13 “For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself:”

Why did God choose Abram? God’s grace…no other reason. Abram wasn’t seeking God, Abram isn’t getting rid of idols, it wasn’t because he was a “Good guy”....God chose Abram.

God will give us confidence in His Word (v. 7)

God appears to Abraham and confirms His promise.

What makes a “covenant” important is that in a world of change, a covenant is a denial of “change”, of time. That no matter what happens, we say we will be faithful. This is what marriage is. Sure, parts of you will change, but your commitment to your promise means you will always give the lovey you stated you will give.

We see God’s covenant in Genesis 15

God’s covenant was a way of establishing a relationship with Abraham and His family forever

Worship is an act of faith to God

You can’t have faith without obedience

Abram is called to leave his past and trust his future in God.

Abram had to set aside his family, the country he was from, and the idols he worshipped. He has to trust God with the unknown and remove that which is known but not good for him.

“The solace of country and family must give way to a higher allegiance.”

-Matthew 10:37 “The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

-Abram cutting ties with his father is significant. He was removing his ability for climbing economically, or an inheritance by his father, and no longer can he go back.

God said He would make Abram a “great nation” even though God had not yet promised him a son.

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.”

Abram is given knowledge of God’s promises, he acted on the, and he trusted them even when there were competing stories.

True faith must overcome obstacles

Abram won’t be perfect, he will make mistakes. There will be “losses” along the way. He will fail. But Abram continues to have faith in God.

-What separates Abram is that He trusts in God’s promises.

Our experiences should shape us to trust in God more.

-In them we should learn that God’s promises aren’t shaking, we shouldn’t fear that God can’t com through.

-We also learn as we move forward how to have confidence in God’s plan, and to have hope for something greater.

Faith must be publicly proclaimed

Abram called on the name of the Lord. He was declaring God’s victory over this land.

Why must he build this altar? It is a response to God’s faithfulness.