Abram
One of the pivotal events of Scripture is the life of Abram - Abraham. He is mentioned
over 60 times in the New Testament, and his name is found in 11 of the books
of the New Testament. The covenant between God and Abraham is one of the cornerstones of the Gospel. This promise, made as a result of Abraham's great
faith, established the Nation of Israel as God's chosen nation. It also made graphically clear the promise of an inheritance of the Earth as the reward of the righteous. Abraham is mentioned many times in the Old and the New Testaments. His example of faith is held up as a pattern for all others to follow. (See Heb. 11 and Rom. 4). At the time of Abraham's calling, he lived in a city named Ur, in the land currently called Kuwait, then called Chaldees. It was a very civilized place for that time. It would have been much safer and easier to ignore God's commandment, and stay in Ur. The land of Canaan was comparatively a wilderness.
It is not clear how rich and powerful Abraham's family was, but there must have been some financial sacrifice made in the process of uprooting the family and moving many miles away. Obviously, there was tremendous sacrifice of comfort, kin and stability. The scriptures remark:
Gal 3:6
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Another important aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant is the promise of the Christ. Jesus is emphatically announced as a descendant of Abraham in the New Testament. This is infinitely easier to understand with a Biblical view of Jesus: as a man of the nation of Israel, who came into being by God miraculously causing Mary to be with child while yet being a virgin. This same Jesus was eventually elevated to a position of Lord as a result of his perfect obedience. And, due to his lineage through Mary, as a direct descendant of David and, naturally, of Abraham also.
Abraham's Faith
Heb 11:8-9
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. (KJV)
Promises Given to Abraham
Gen 17:5-8
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. [KJV]
Heb 11:11-12
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. [KJV]
Galations 4:22-26,28
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise
24 Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was are the children of promise.[KJV]
Genesis 21:9-13
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
11 And this thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman;in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.[KJV]
Jesus a Promise to Abraham
Galations 3:16
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed which is Christ[KJV]
John 8:56,58
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad.
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. [KJV]
The New Testament & the Abrahamic Covenant
Galatians 3:7-9
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations blessed
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. [KJV]
Genesis 12:1-3,7
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy fathers house unto a land that I will shew thee.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land; and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.[KJV]
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