Week 4 Discussion

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Apr 3, 2024

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Covenant Defined A covenant can be (1) “a formal, solemn, and binding agreement or compact” or (2) “a written agreement or promise under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action.” (Merriam-Webster.com). According to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, a covenant is “a compact or agreement between two parties binding them mutually to undertakings on each other’s behalf” (Archer 2017, 214). God’s Promise (Covenant) to and with Abraham God called Abraham (then Abram) from his native country to follow Him in Genesis 12:1-3 only commanding Abram to journey “into a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1). With His call to Abram, God told him that He would make Abram a great nation, bless him, his name would be great, and that he would also be a blessing. It does not list any conditions or commandments like those that God gave Moses later on, such as obey, and you will be blessed (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 28). God called, and Abram obeyed even though he had no clue where he would be going (Hebrews 11:8). In Genesis 13 after Abram had traveled through Canaan down to Egypt and back into Canaan, God again promised him that the land that he was standing on would belong to him and his descendant’s land. Genesis 15, God makes a covenant with Abram. Abram divided a heifer, a female goat, a ram, all three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. Falling asleep, God appears to Abram in his dream as “a burning lamp” passing between the sacrificial animals promising the land of Canaan to him and his descendants (Genesis 15:7-21). The commentary within the King James Study Bible states, “Cutting a covenant conveys the idea that the same will be done to the one who breaks this covenant […] however, God alone passes between the animal pieces, because this covenant with Abram is unconditional, and can be carried out only by God Himself.” Genesis 17, Although God tells Abram in verses 1-2, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, be you perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” God again repeats to Abram, “My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:1,4 KJVER). God then changed Abram (meaning “exalted or high father”) to Abraham (meaning “father of a multitude”) and also told Abraham to circumcise himself and every male within his household who was eight years old and older. The circumcision becomes a sign of setting apart to show that Abraham and his descendants were God’s chosen (Genesis 17:8-14). In Genesis 21, Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah, fulfilling God’s promise about having a son. However, God blesses Ishmael because he is of Abraham’s line (Genesis 17-20-21; 25:12-18). Abraham also remarries in Genesis 25 and more children. This is the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations (verse 4). Observations The Abrahamic Covenant is significant because only God passed through the sacrificial animals. God knew that Abram, without Him, would not be able to be a father of many nations. God already had a plan in place that involved all of Abraham’s offspring, not only His chosen people that would come with Abraham’s son Isaac. This is also the beginning of the setting apart of God’s chosen people, who would later be named the nation of Israel. Abraham sent Ishmael and his mother away after Isaac’s birth and gave all he had to Isaac, sending his concubines away before his death (Genesis 21:9- 16; 25:1-6). Though there is no language like the Mosaic covenant, the language with the Abrahamic covenant still has two places I would like to point out. 1. Genesis 17:1-2, God told Abraham to walk before him and be perfect (blameless), and he will significantly multiply him. Though not necessarily a condition for the covenant, as God has already made his covenant physically in Genesis 15, this could be seen as a condition to some. However, throughout Genesis, Abraham makes a few mistakes, like lying about Sarah being his wife or giving in to Sarah because she is impatient for a child. He does not show complete disregard or disobedience to God.

2. Genesis 17:9-14, God instructs Abraham to circumcise himself and those in his household. God states, ”This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised.” Later, any male not circumcised “… will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.” (New Living Translation). An everlasting covenant is forever, and God promised Abraham in Genesis 17 an “everlasting covenant” and the land of Canaan as an “everlasting possession” (17:7-8). For an everlasting promise or covenant to be made, the being making that promise has to be in and of themselves eternal. God is eternal (Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 44:6; 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Revelation 1:4, 8). This covenant then has no end, as God Himself has no end. This, in turn, also answers what is everlasting life. To have such means there is no end, so it will be forever when we go to dwell with God, whether through death or the rapture. Overall, I believe that the Abrahamic covenant is unconditional, though I noted at least one point that seemed conditional to myself in Genesis 17:9-14 about the circumcision. Abraham was a faithful servant and obeyed the Lord faithfully, but this could be understood as a warning for his descendants, the people of Israel. The Lord confronted Moses after he was called, and it states that he would be killed; Moses’ wife then circumcised their son (Exodus 4:24-25). This could be concerning the condition of circumcision given to Abraham in Genesis about the uncircumcised male being cut off from his people. Moses, though he was raised in Pharoah’s palace, potentially would know about circumcision through his mother, as she was his nurse hired by Pharoah’s daughter (Exodus 2:5-10). Works Cited G.L. Archer Jr. “Covenant.” In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 3 rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2017, 214-215. Liberty University. 2017. The King James Archaeological Study Bible, Full Color Edition. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “covenant,” accessed September 26, 2023, https://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/covenant. Tyndale House. 2015. Holy Bible . New Living Translation. Whitaker House. 2015. Holy Bible. King James Version Easy Reader.

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