Abraham: The Covenant Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2011 Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978,

Abraham: The Covenant

Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2011Scripture quotations taken from the

HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Used by permission

Genesis 12:1-3Genesis 12:1-3 1 The 1 The Lord had said to Abram, Lord had said to Abram,

"Leave your country, your "Leave your country, your people and your father's people and your father's household and go to the household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I land I will show you. 2 "I

will make you into a great will make you into a great nation and I will bless nation and I will bless

you; ...and all peoples on you; ...and all peoples on earth will be blessed earth will be blessed

through you." through you."

The Call

•a living God

•a leaving behind

•a legacy promised

•a living God

•a leaving behind


Matthew 1:1Matthew 1:1 A record A record of the genealogy of Jesus of the genealogy of Jesus

Christ the son of David, Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:the son of Abraham:

The Call

•a living God

•a leaving behind


•a living God

•a leaving behind


Galatians 3:14Galatians 3:14 He He redeemed us in order redeemed us in order

that the blessing given to that the blessing given to Abraham might come to Abraham might come to

the Gentiles through the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive faith we might receive

the promise of the Spirit. the promise of the Spirit.

The Call

•a living God

•a leaving behind


•a living God

•a leaving behind


Genesis 12:1-3Genesis 12:1-3 1 The 1 The Lord had said to Abram, Lord had said to Abram,

"Leave your country, your "Leave your country, your people and your father's people and your father's household and go to the household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I land I will show you. 2 "I

will make you into a great will make you into a great nation and I will bless nation and I will bless

you; ...and all peoples on you; ...and all peoples on earth will be blessed earth will be blessed

through you." through you."

The Call

•a living God

•a leaving behind


•a living God

•a leaving behind


•a ludicrous choice•a ludicrous choice

Genesis 14:1-2Genesis 14:1-2 At this At this time Amraphel king of time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Shinar, Arioch king of

Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of of Elam and Tidal king of

Goiim 2 went to war Goiim 2 went to war against Bera king of against Bera king of

Sodom, Birsha king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Admah, Shemeber king of

Zeboiim, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). Bela (that is, Zoar).

The COVENANT

A covenant:

•two households became one

•for protection & provision

•lasted a lifetime

A covenant:

•two households became one

•for protection & provision

•lasted a lifetime

Genesis 15:1Genesis 15:1 After After this, the word of the Lord this, the word of the Lord

came to Abram in a came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, Abram. I am your shield,

your very great reward." your very great reward."

The COVENANT

Protection

•“shield”

Protection

•“shield”

Provision

•“reward”

Provision

•“reward”

Genesis 15:2Genesis 15:2 But But Abram said, "O Sovereign Abram said, "O Sovereign

Lord, what can you give Lord, what can you give me since I remain me since I remain

childless and the one who childless and the one who will inherit my estate is will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" Eliezer of Damascus?"

The COVENANT

Protection

•“shield”

Protection

•“shield”

Provision

•“reward”

Provision

•“reward”

Genesis 15:5Genesis 15:5 He took He took him outside and said, him outside and said,

"Look up at the heavens "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if and count the stars--if indeed you can count indeed you can count

them." Then he said to them." Then he said to him, "So shall your him, "So shall your

offspring be." offspring be."

The COVENANT

Protection

•“shield”

Protection

•“shield”

Provision

•“reward”

Provision

•“reward”

Genesis 15:6Genesis 15:6 Abram Abram believed the Lord, and he believed the Lord, and he

credited it to him as credited it to him as righteousness. righteousness.

The COVENANT

We enter into God’s promise by FAITH alone


Romans 4:23-24Romans 4:23-24The The words "it was credited to words "it was credited to him" were written not for him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for him alone, 24 but also for

us, to whom God will us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for credit righteousness--for

us who believe in him us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord who raised Jesus our Lord

from the dead. from the dead.

The COVENANT



Ephesians 2:8Ephesians 2:8For it is For it is by grace you have been by grace you have been

saved, through faith--and saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, this not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God-- it is the gift of God--

The COVENANT



Genesis 5:9Genesis 5:9So the Lord So the Lord said to him, "Bring me a said to him, "Bring me a

heifer, a goat and a ram, heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, each three years old,

along with a dove and a along with a dove and a young pigeon." young pigeon."

The COVENANT

Genesis 15:10Genesis 15:10Abram Abram brought all these to him, brought all these to him,

cut them in two and cut them in two and arranged the halves arranged the halves

opposite each other; the opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not birds, however, he did not

cut in half. cut in half.

The COVENANT

Genesis 15:17Genesis 15:17When When the sun had set and the sun had set and

darkness had fallen, a darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a smoking firepot with a

blazing torch blazing torch appeared ....appeared ....

The COVENANT

•God was the other partner!•God was the other partner!

Genesis 15:17Genesis 15:17When When the sun had set and the sun had set and

darkness had fallen, a darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a smoking firepot with a

blazing torch appeared blazing torch appeared and passed between the and passed between the

pieces. pieces.

The COVENANT


•God sealed the deal•God sealed the deal•God did it all•God did it all

Genesis 15:18Genesis 15:18On that On that day the Lord made a day the Lord made a

covenant with Abram ...covenant with Abram ...

The COVENANT


•God sealed the deal•God sealed the deal•God did it all•God did it all

Genesis 17:5Genesis 17:5No longer No longer will you be called Abram; will you be called Abram;

your name will be your name will be Abraham, for I have made Abraham, for I have made

you a father of many you a father of many nations. nations.

The COVENANT

Two signsTwo signs

•new names•new names

Genesis 17:11-12Genesis 17:11-12You You are to undergo are to undergo

circumcision, and it will circumcision, and it will be the sign of the be the sign of the

covenant between me covenant between me and you. 12 For the and you. 12 For the

generations to come generations to come every male among you every male among you

who is eight days old who is eight days old must be circumcised, must be circumcised,

including those born in including those born in your household or bought your household or bought

with money from a with money from a foreigner--those who are foreigner--those who are

not your offspring. not your offspring.

The COVENANT

Two signsTwo signs

•new names•new names

•new scar•new scar

The COVENANT

Just an aside ...Just an aside ...

•God’s PACE is different to ours•God’s PACE is different to ours

•God’s PLAN is different to ours•God’s PLAN is different to ours

Genesis 22:12bGenesis 22:12b" Now " Now I know that you fear God, I know that you fear God,

because you have not because you have not withheld from me your withheld from me your

son, your only son." son, your only son."

The Consequence

•Abraham was totally confident in God


Genesis 22:12aGenesis 22:12a"Do "Do not lay a hand on the not lay a hand on the

boy," he said. "Do not do boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. anything to him.

The Consequence


•Abraham was totally confident in God•The old way is over•The old way is over

Ephesians 2:13Ephesians 2:13But But now in Christ Jesus you now in Christ Jesus you

who once were far away who once were far away have been brought near have been brought near

through the blood of through the blood of Christ. Christ.

Grace Notes

•The blood that sealed the covenant


John 1:14John 1:14The Word The Word became flesh and made became flesh and made his dwelling among us. his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and the glory of the One and

Only, who came from the Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and Father, full of grace and

truth. truth.

Grace Notes


•The blood that sealed the covenant•The way God sealed the covenant

•The way God sealed the covenant

2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 5:215:21God made him who God made him who

had no sin to be sin for had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we us, so that in him we

might become the might become the righteousness of God. righteousness of God.

Grace Notes



•The way God sealed the covenant

John 20:20John 20:20After he said After he said this, he showed them his this, he showed them his

hands and side. The hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. when they saw the Lord.

Grace Notes



•The way God sealed the covenant•The scar•The scar

John 1:29John 1:29The next day The next day John saw Jesus coming John saw Jesus coming

toward him and said, toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, "Look, the Lamb of God,

who takes away the sin of who takes away the sin of the world! the world!

Grace Notes




•The lamb provided•The lamb provided

Luke 23:33Luke 23:33When they When they came to the place called came to the place called

the Skull, there they the Skull, there they crucified him, along with crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his the criminals--one on his

right, the other on his right, the other on his left. left.

Grace Notes




•The lamb provided•The lamb provided•The place the lamb was found•The place the lamb was found

Hebrews Hebrews 11:1911:19Abraham reasoned Abraham reasoned

that God could raise the that God could raise the dead, and figuratively dead, and figuratively

speaking, he did receive speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Isaac back from death.

Grace Notes




•The lamb provided•The lamb provided•The place the lamb was found•The place the lamb was found

•The resurrection pondered

•The resurrection pondered

Documents

Abraham: The Covenant Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2011 Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978,