The Book Of Genesis
"The Abrahamic Covenant"


    I. Six Keys Unlocking The Rest Of Scripture (Israel My Glory magazine)

    1. Genesis 12:1 - The Land
    2. Genesis 12:2 - The Seed
    3. Genesis 12:3 - The Blessing
    4. Genesis 13:14-16 - Literal
    5. Genesis 13:15 - Eternal
    6. Genesis 15:9-18 - Unconditional

    Dr. C. I Scofield, The Biblical Covenants:

     
    Abrahamic; Genesis 12:2

    The Abrahamic Covenant as formed (Gen 12:1 - 4) and confirmed (Gen 13:14 - 17; 15:1 - 7,18 -21; 17:1 - 8) is in three aspects:

    (1) The promise of a great nation: "I will make you into a great nation" (Gen 12:2). This had primary reference to Israel, the descendants of Jacob, to whom the everlasting possession of the land is promised (Gen 17:8), to whom the everlasting covenant is given (Gen 17:7), and to whom God said, "I will be their God" (Gen 17:8). Abraham was also promised that he would father other nations (cp. Gen 17:6,20), principally fulfilled through Ishmael and Esau.

    (2) Four personal promises are given to Abraham:
        (a) To be the father of numerous descendants (Gen 17:16).
        (b) To receive personal blessing, "I will bless you," fulfilled in two ways: temporally (Gen 13:14 -15,17; 15:18; 24:34 - 35); and spiritually (Gen 15:6; John 8:56).
        (c) To receive personal honor, "and make your name great" (Gen 12:2), fulfilled in recognition by all who honor the Bible. And (d) to be the channel of blessing, "And you will be a blessing" (Gen 12:2), fulfilled: in blessings to others through his seed, Israel, who became the instruments of divine revelation; through Abraham as an example of pious faith (Rom 4:1 - 22); and pre-eminently through Christ, Abraham's Seed (Gal 3:16).

    (3) Promises to the Gentiles.
        (a) "I will bless those who bless you" (Gen 12:3). Those who honor Abraham will be blessed.
        (b) "And whoever curses you I will curse" (Gen 12:3). This was a warning literally fulfilled in the history of Israel's persecutions. It has invariably fared ill with the people who have persecuted the Jew - well with those who have protected him. For a nation to commit the sin of anti-Semitism brings inevitable judgment. The future will still more remarkably prove this principle (Deu 30:7; Isa 14:1 - 2; Joel 3:1 - 8; Mic 5:7 - 9; Hag 2:22; Zech 14:1 - 3; Mat 25:40,45).
        (c) "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Gen 12:3). This is the great evangelic promise fulfilled in Abraham's Seed, Christ, and in all the spiritual seed of Abraham who, like Abraham, are justified by faith (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6 - 9,16,29; cp. John 8:56 - 58). It gives added revelation and confirmation of the promise of the Adamic Covenant concerning the Seed of the woman (Gen 3:15).

    The Abrahamic Covenant reveals the sovereign purpose of God to fulfill through Abraham His program for Israel, and to provide in Christ the Savior for all who believe. The ultimate fulfillment is made to rest upon the divine promise and the power of God rather than upon human faithfulness.


    3.  New Scofield Reference Bible: C. I. Scofield D.D., Editor

    Scofield Notes: p.19 "The Abrahamic Covenant"
    Referenced to Genesis 12:1

    <The Fourth Dispensation: Promise.>
    This dispensation extended from the call of Abram to the giving of the law at Sinai (Exo 19:3ff.). Its stewardship was based upon God's covenant with Abram, first cited here, Gen 12:1 - 3, and confirmed and enlarged in Gen 13:14 - 17; 15:1 - 7; 17:1 - 8,15 - 19; 22:16 - 18; 26:2 - 5,24; 28:13 - 15; 31:13; 35:9 - 12.


    Observe:
    (1) the specific provisions affecting Abram himself (Gen 15:15) and his son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob (Gen 26:1 - 5; 28:10 - 16), under which individual blessing depended upon individual obedience (Gen 12:1; cp. 22:18; 26:5).


    (2) God made an unconditional promise of blessings through Abram's seed
        (a) to the nation Israel to inherit a specific territory forever (Gen 12:2; 15:18 - 21; 17:7 - 8);
        (b) to the Church as in Christ (Gal 3:16,28 - 29); and
        (c) to the Gentile nations (Gen 12:3).


    (3) There was a promise of blessing upon those individuals and nations who bless Abram's descendants, and a curse laid upon those who persecute the Jews (Gen 12:3; Mat 25:31 - 46). Consequently this dispensation had varied emphases. To the Gentiles of that period, there was little direct application other than the test implied by Gen 12:3 and illustrated by God's blessing or judgment upon individuals (Pharaoh, Gen 12:17; Abimelech, Gen 20:3,17, etc.), or nations (e.g. Egypt, Gen 47 - 50; Exo 1 - 15) who treated Abram or his descendants well or ill.


    In the continuance through the centuries of this stewardship of truth, believers of the Church age are called upon to trust God as Abram did (Rom 4:11,16,23 - 25; Gal 3:6 - 9), and thus enter into the blessings of the covenant which inaugurated the dispensation of Promise.


    God's promises to Abram and his seed certainly did not terminate at Sinai with the giving of the law (Gal 3:17). Both O.T. and N.T. are full of post-Sinaitic promises concerning Israel and the land which is to be Israel's everlasting possession (e.g. Exo 32:13; 33:1 - 3; Lev 23:10; 25:2; 26:6; Deu 6:1 - 23; 8:1 - 18; Josh 1:2,11; 24:13; Acts 7:17; Rom 9:4). But as a specific test of Israel's stewardship of divine truth, the dispensation of Promise was superseded, though not annulled, by the law that was given at Sinai (Exo 19:3ff.).


    Other dispensational notes: Innocence (Gen 1:28); Conscience or Moral Responsibility (Gen 3:7); Human Government (Gen 8:15); Law (Exo 19:1); Church (Acts 2:1); Kingdom (Rev 20:4).


    The events of this sentence are referred to in chapter 11:27 - 32.

    <Separation:> vv. 1 - 5; Gen 13:9. (Gen 12:1; 2 Cor 6:17)

    New Scofield Reference Bible: C. I. Scofield D.D., Editor
    Scofield Notes: p.19 "The Abrahamic Covenant"
    Referenced to Genesis 12:1

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