Topical Encyclopedia IntroductionAbraham, originally named Abram, is a central figure in the Bible, revered as the patriarch of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, and Midianites. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, where he is depicted as a man of great faith and obedience to God. One of the most significant aspects of Abraham's life is the covenant that God establishes with him, which lays the foundation for the relationship between God and Abraham's descendants. The Call of Abram The narrative of God's covenant with Abraham begins with God's call to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 : "Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.'" This initial call sets the stage for the covenant, as God promises to make Abram a great nation and a source of blessing for all the earth. The Covenant Established The formal establishment of the covenant occurs in Genesis 15. God reassures Abram of His promise, despite Abram's concern about having no offspring. In Genesis 15:5-6 , God takes Abram outside and says, "'Look now at the sky and count the stars, if you are able.' Then He told him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness." God then instructs Abram to prepare a sacrifice, and in a vision, God makes a covenant with him, as described in Genesis 15:18 : "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates.'" The Sign of the Covenant In Genesis 17, God reaffirms and expands the covenant, changing Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many nations." Genesis 17:4-5 states, "'As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.'" God also introduces the sign of the covenant, which is circumcision. Genesis 17:10-11 records, "'This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.'" The Promise of Isaac A crucial aspect of the covenant is the promise of a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant will continue. Despite Abraham and Sarah's old age, God promises them a son. Genesis 17:19 states, "But God replied, 'Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.'" The Test of Faith The covenant is further tested in Genesis 22, where God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham's willingness to obey demonstrates his faith, and God intervenes, providing a ram as a substitute. This event reaffirms God's promises, as seen in Genesis 22:16-18 : "'By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.'" Conclusion The covenant with Abraham is foundational to the biblical narrative, establishing the relationship between God and the people of Israel. It is characterized by promises of land, descendants, and blessing, and is marked by the sign of circumcision. Abraham's faith and obedience serve as a model for future generations, and the covenant's implications extend throughout the Bible, influencing both Jewish and Christian theology. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 15:1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 17:1-22 Micah 7:20 Luke 1:73 Romans 4:13 Romans 15:8 Hebrews 6:13,14 Galatians 3:6-18,29 Galatians 4:22-31 Library Of God's Attestation to Abraham, by which He Assures Him, when Now ... Both Covenants were Prefigured in Abraham, and in the Labour of ... The Complement of Genesis. The Covenant of Grace Hope for the Heathen What Covenant of God the New-Born Babe Breaks. What was the Value ... The Noachic Covenant Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals. Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity God's Testament and Promise in ... Chapter xvii Resources Who was Abraham in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the blessing of Abraham? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham (Galatians 3:7)? | GotQuestions.org Abraham: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Abraham is Blessed by Melchizedek Abraham: Age of, at Different Periods Abraham: Ancestors of, Idolatrous Abraham: Deferring to Lot, Chooses Hebron Abraham: He Purchases a Place for Her Burial, and Buries Her in a Cave Abraham: His Questions About the Destruction of the Righteous and Wicked in Sodom Abraham: How Regarded by his Descendants Abraham: Independence of, in Character Abraham: Lives in Gerar; Deceives Abimelech Concerning Sarah, his Wife Abraham: Lives in Ur, But Removes to Haran Abraham: Provides a Wife for Isaac Abraham: Sarah, his Wife, Dies Abraham: Sends Hagar and Ishmael Away Abraham: Trial of his Faith in the offering of Isaac Abraham: Witnesses the Destruction of Sodom Miscegenation: Forbidden by Abraham Related Terms Burnt-offering (205 Occurrences) |
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