The Abrahamic Covenant

Introduction

In this well known historical narrative, which introduces the Abrahamic Covenant, God speaks to Abraham and promises not only to bless him for his obedience, but to bless all nations through him. Romans 4:16 says that we have inherited the same covenant, being children of Abraham by faith. In inheriting this blessing, we have also inherited the mandate to bless all nations. Indeed, the calling to Abraham is the foundation of the church’s calling – a calling not just into blessing but to pass on that blessing to all peoples.

Them

The passage occurs very early in the narrative of Genesis, only a few generations after the great flood. After speaking with and through Enoch and later Noah, there has been very little apparent interaction

It’s an affirmation that after the judgements of the flood and the Tower of Babel, God has not abandoned the human race, but is active in history with a plan of redemption.

“Abraham is called and led by God to leave his ancestral home... he is called to break from his corrupted community to lay the foundations for a new community. This will be the means of redemption. Abraham is promised descendants and a special land for these descendants. They become the focus of God’s redemptive plan through the institution known as [the Abrahamic]

I come from a Buddhist family. Being a Christian was a constant physical, psychological and spiritual battle. As I grew, the more I learned about God, the more I wanted to follow Him. In one of my morning devotion times I was reading this passage, and the word of the Lord just struck me and I heard the Lord’s calling….. I wept and wept. At that time, I had a sense of a strong leading of the Lord, calling me to go to the USA to do a course with Youth with a Mission. My family was troubled and angry that I was not going to be there to help them. But I packed my bag, got a bus, went to the airport. On the way to the airport, I read this verse over and over again, knowing God had called me into mission and there was no turning back. I remember after I had gone through customs, I sat waiting to board the plane, tears were running down my cheeks, feeling all alone with overwhelming sadness. I knew there was no turning