The Abrahamic Covenant, pt. 1
WEEK 3: The Abrahamic Covenant (Part 1) – A People and a Purpose
Primary Texts
Genesis 12:1–9
Genesis 15:1–21
(Preview of Genesis 17 for next week)
Expositional Outline
I. The Call and Promise (Genesis 12:1–3)
v.1: “Go from your country…” — radical obedience; God calls Abram out of security.
vv.2–3: Core promise: great nation, great name, blessing to the nations.
v.4–9: Abram’s journey, worship, and initial obedience.
II. Covenant Confirmed and Cut (Genesis 15:1–21)
v.1: “Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield…” — reassurance before covenant action.
vv.2–6: Dialogue on offspring — God's word is enough for Abraham’s faith (v.6).
vv.7–11: Covenant ritual preparation — animals cut, but God delays.
vv.12–16: Prophetic vision of future enslavement and redemption — the covenant includes both suffering and deliverance.
vv.17–21: God alone passes through the pieces — unconditionality stressed.
Original Language Insights
"Blessing" (בָּרַךְ – barak) – Appears five times in Genesis 12:2–3. This is God's answer to the five curses from Genesis 3–11.
Genesis 15:6 – "He believed" (וְהֶאֱמִן – vehe'emin) – From the root ’aman, meaning to support, to confirm. It's not mental assent, but trust.
“Cut a covenant” (כָּרַת בְּרִית – karat berit) – Genesis 15:18. Animals split to represent the fate of covenant-breakers (cf. Jeremiah 34:18–20).
Cross-References
Galatians 3:6–9 – Paul explicitly ties faith, justification, and Abraham together.
Hebrews 11:8–12 – Abraham as an example of forward-looking faith.
Romans 4:1–5, 13–25 – Abraham justified before circumcision; faith apart from works.
Genesis 22:16–18 – Further confirmation of the covenant after the testing.
Hermeneutical Analysis
Historical-Grammatical
Covenant-making in the ANE involved solemn oaths and blood rituals. In Genesis 15, God alone walks the path, in contrast to typical mutual agreements.
Abraham’s landless, childless status underlines the radical nature of God’s promise.
Canonical
Genesis 12 is a hinge point in redemptive history — the transition from universal focus (Gen 1–11) to God's plan through a particular people.
All other covenants flow downstream from this one — the Mosaic law, Davidic kingship, and New Covenant all build on Abraham's promise.
Redemptive-Historical
The Abrahamic covenant is not just a national or territorial promise, but the seedbed of the gospel (Galatians 3).
“In you all nations will be blessed” looks forward to Christ (Gal. 3:8).
Deep-Dive, Theologically Rich Insights
Genesis 12:3 – “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”: This is missional theology in seed form. Israel was never the end goal, but a conduit. This anticipates the inclusion of the Gentiles.
Genesis 15:6 – Paul treats this verse as the cornerstone of justification by faith. What’s notable is that this happens before any rituals (circumcision, law). Faith precedes all.
Genesis 15:17 – The fire pot and torch: These represent God's manifest presence (cf. Ex. 3:2; 19:18). The passing through the pieces without Abraham shows that God alone bears the covenant's weight. Grace precedes law.
Genesis 15:13–16 – The prophecy of enslavement and exodus frames the rest of the Pentateuch. God’s promises include foreknowledge of suffering — He binds Himself to His people through the highs and lows.
Teaching or Preaching Application
Hook: Ask, “What do you do when God’s promises don’t match your circumstances?” Abram had no land, no heir, no evidence — just God’s word.
Application Points:
God’s promises may take generations to unfold, but they are trustworthy.
Faith often looks like waiting and obeying without visible progress.
God commits Himself to His people even when they falter (Abram does immediately in Gen 16).
Discussion Questions:
How does Abraham's story challenge the idea that faith always leads to immediate blessing?
Why is it important that God alone passes through the covenant pieces?
How does this covenant shape your understanding of salvation by grace?
