God’s Covenant with Abraham

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God’s enduring covenant with Abraham should be a comfort to the Church. God’s promise to Abraham models His heart towards humanity. But what did God promise Abraham?

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The famed Abrahamic covenant comes from Genesis 12:1-3. It reads:

“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, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 

Abram or Abraham – Who was he?

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Abraham, formerly known as Abram, was the first Hebrew Patriarch who came from Ur of the Chaldeans. Today, scholars locate the approximate location to be 200 miles southeast of Baghdad (Britannica).

When we first meet Abram, he was was a pagan like everyone else. However, he was different from the rest of his family, so God called him to separate himself and go to the land which God would show him.

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Abram and his wife Sarai were called out of Haran, where they had lived and prospered. They were meant to go somewhere completely unknown to them. All the while, Abram and Sarai did not have any children born to them yet. Abram was still waiting for God to provide an heir to them, and in Genesis 17 the Lord appeared to Abram again, saying,

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“I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” At this, Abram fell face down, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:3-5)