8 Abrahamic Covenant

One of the most critical events in the biblical narrative is God's covenant with Abraham. In this session, you will see how this covenant functions on a fundamental level in God's redemptive plan and purposes for the whole world.
by Jerry Wierwille
The Plot Story Thus Far (Adam → Noah → Abraham)
Each is a new beginning where God begins something new. God’s dealings with Abraham will be last major re-start in the grand narrative of Scripture until the end and God’s eternal kingdom is established in a new heavens and new earth.
Key Points in the Abrahamic Narrative
1. The Giving of the Promise: The Call of Abram (Genesis 12)
2. The Making of the Covenant: The Promise of Descendants and Land (Genesis 15)
3. Affirming the Covenant: The Sign of Circumcision (Genesis 17)
4. Abraham’s Obedience and Confirmation of the Promises by Oath (Genesis 22)
Genesis 12-The Giving of the Promise: The Call of Abram
God’s Command and Promise (12:1-3)
“Go” (command)
1. I will make you into a great nation (promise)
2. I will bless you (promise)
3. I will make your name great (promise)
“Be a blessing” (command)
1. I will bless those who bless you (promise)
2. I will curse him who curses you (promise)
3. In you all nations will be blessed (promise)
Abram’s Response: Obedience (12:4-9)
1. Abram left Haran (vv. 4-6) (obedience)
2. Promise confirmed, Abram worships (v. 7) (promise and worship)
3. Abram journey to the Negev (vv. 8-9) (obedience and worship)
*Outlines adapted from Peter J. Gentry and Stephen J. Wellum, Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants (2nd ed; Crossway: 2018).
Genesis 15-The Making of the Covenant: The Promise of Descendants and Land
Part 1-Promise of Seed/Descendants (15:1-6)
A. God reveals himself and makes promises (v. 1)
B. Abram’s complaint and question (vv. 2-3)
A’. God’s revelation and confirmation (vv. 4-6)
Part 2-Promise of Land (15:7-21)
A. God reveals himself and makes promises (v. 7)
B. Abram’s complaint and question (v. 8)
A’. God’s revelation and confirmation (vv. 9-21)
Genesis 17-Affirming the Covenant: The Sign of Circumcision
A. Yahweh’s intention to affirm his oath about progeny (vv. 1-2)
B. Abram falls on his face (v. 3)
C. God promises descendants and land (vv. 4-8)
D. The covenant sign of circumcision (vv. 9-14)
A’. Yahweh’s intention to bless Sarah with progeny (vv. 15-16)
B’. Abraham falls on his face (vv. 17-18)
C’. God promises a son from Sarah (vv. 19-22)
D’. The sign of circumcision is practiced (vv. 23-27)
Genesis 22- Abraham’s Obedience and Confirmation of the Promises by Oath
A. God’s call and Abraham’s response (vv. 1-2)
B. Abraham’s obedience (vv. 3-6)
C. Dialogue: Abraham and Isaac (vv. 7-8)
B’. Abraham’s obedience (vv. 9-10)
A’. God speaks with Abraham (vv. 11-12)
D. Abraham worships God (vv. 13-14)
E. God confirms his promises with an oath (vv. 15-18)
Parallels in Creation and Abrahamic Covenants
1:28: And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
12:2: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and be a blessing! And I will bless those who bless you.
17:2, 6, 8: “I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly…. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will give to you and to your seed after you,…all the land of Canaan, . . .”
For more notes: lhim.org/lhim-...