This can be studied from various aspects. However we look at it we find point-blank teaching that we can apply right now. God met with Abraham on his 99th birthday and reaffirmed the covenant. It’s good food for thought.
Genesis 17: 1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 9And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee.
This is mostly God speaking to Abraham. Several times he speaks of it as my covenant and it being with thee. Can we not see ourselves in what God said? Abraham would be the father of many nations. Through his descendants all nations would be blessed. The Savior came through Abraham, and we were included. Because we have accepted the same Holy God as the Jewish nation did, we share the same plan. It is by God’s calling and choosing Abraham through this covenant that it is all made possible.
It gives us wonderful insight into the character of God. When promises are made they must be kept. Abraham was yet to be a father; he was still waiting on the promised child. Even in patriarch times 99 was old to become a father. However, God keeps his promises. Don’t give up. He always performs what he says he’ll do. He reminded Abraham that he was the Almighty God. He was able to do, not just some things in certain times, but all things, in all times, under any circumstances.
Abraham fell to the ground before the Lord. We need to remember this. He is able. Don’t be discouraged at what you see the devil do. He’d have us think God is not what he used to be and the covenant is too transparent to have power. Don’t listen. God is still the same. The way things seem is not always the way they are. The devil is not stronger than God. You and I are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. We can still claim the promise of the covenant.
This covenant was not made by Abraham. He gave no terms. Often men make the mistake of trying to make their own terms with God and make their own covenants. God won’t accept any covenant but the one he created and offered to us. We don’t know how to promise God. In our flesh we are promise breakers. God is spirit, and it’s far better to be the receiver of the covenant than the creator. We can’t set our own perimeters. We deceive ourselves if we think we can.
Listen seriously to what God’s covenant has as its conditions. God has promised us a lot that we could never do. He has put himself under obligation to us. For it to work there must be two. We may feel we’ve run out of gas. As the years go by it seems we do. God made the promise, and it’s just as good today as it was the day we were saved. It is still just as fresh and powerful because he is still the Almighty God. No wonder Abraham bowed down.
God made a covenant with Abraham. He has made it with you and me. He would honor it 100% if only a few followed him. It is his covenant with us. Don’t ever forget the high honor of a covenant relationship with God. It is for us and with us. Abraham was a sojourner in the land; he traveled his entire life, but God gave him the land. Israel has her land today. The covenant went with him in generations to come because it was an everlasting one. It wasn’t a sunny-day promise that didn’t hold up. Even after Abraham’s death, the covenant lived on.
We are spiritual children of Abraham because we’re children of God. We’re part of the covenant as believers with faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s not give up on our end of the bargain. In verse 10 God told him to keep it. God does his part, and we must do ours. God required Abraham to believe him, to walk before him and live an upright, pleasing life. Keep the covenant. Let it be a road map. God will bring it to pass.
We have sure footing with God, the Rock of Ages. Don’t sell your birthright as Esau did. Hold on. One day you will see it fulfilled completely. Abraham saw it afar off. He searched for a city whose builder and make was God. Let’s do what it takes on our end, and we’ll find that same city that Abraham found.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 