When I was young, we used to sing a song in church. “Father Abraham” expressed how Abraham had many sons, and I was one of them, as are others.
I admit I didn’t understand the theological meaning behind this song when I was in kindergarten.
I knew Abraham was called the father of our faith and the basics of his story and maybe about how he almost sacrificed his son, Isaac — a strange story for a kid in church and probably strange for all of us as adults, too.
As I read more of the Scripture and studied for myself, I realized how central Abraham is to the redemptive plan of God. Apart from Jesus, no person might be more important to the understanding of the gospel than Abraham.
Where Does the Bible Talk about the Life of Abraham?
Abraham’s story is found primarily in the Book of Genesis, particularly in chapters 11-25.
The life of Abraham begins with his genealogy and early years in Ur of the Chaldeans. This passage introduces his father, Terah, his wife, Sarai (later named Sarah), and his nephew, Lot. It also mentions their migration from Ur to Haran.
This pivotal chapter marks the beginning of God’s specific call to Abraham. God instructs him to leave his homeland and journey to a land that He will show him. God promises to make Abraham into a great nation and bless all nations through him.
In order for Abraham to have a nation after him, he needed a son, which God also promised Abraham and Sarah, which is significant since they were both too old to have kids. This would be a miracle.
Abraham obeys and departs with Sarai and Lot. Abraham and Lot part ways due to conflicts over land and resources. Abraham chooses to give Lot the first choice of land, demonstrating his humility and trust in God.
God renews His covenant with Abraham in a profound way. He promises Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars and reaffirms the covenant by making a formal covenant ceremony.
Sarah, unable to bear children, suggests that Abraham have a child with her maidservant, Hagar. Ishmael is born because of this union, leading to subsequent complications in the family.
God changes Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah, signifying their new identities as parents of nations. God also institutes the practice of circumcision as a sign of the covenant. Sarah is promised that she will have a son, Isaac.
Isaac, the promised son, is born to Abraham and Sarah. This chapter also depicts the tension between Sarah and Hagar, resulting in Hagar and Ishmael being sent away. God provides for them in the wilderness.
Perhaps one of the most profound episodes in Abraham's life, this chapter narrates God's test of Abraham’s faith. God instructs Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, but at the last moment, God provides a ram for the offering, reaffirming His covenant with Abraham.
Sarah later dies, and Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac among his relatives. Rebekah is chosen as Isaac's wife in answer to the servant’s prayer.
What Is the Abrahamic Covenant?
The Abrahamic Covenant represents the central, foundational, and divine promise made by God to the patriarch Abraham. This covenant is central to the biblical narrative and has profound theological and historical implications for Judaism and Christianity.
The Abrahamic Covenant is initially introduced in Genesis 12:1-3 when God calls Abraham (then known as Abram) to leave his homeland and go to a land that God would show him. In this passage, God makes several promises to Abraham.
1. The Promised Land. God assures Abraham that He will give him and his descendants the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. This promise signifies the establishment of a homeland for the future nation of Israel.
2. Numerous descendants. God promises to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. This pledge assures the multiplication and growth of Abraham's offspring.
3. A miraculous son of promise. This nation would come from Abraham and Sarah and begin with a miraculous son of promise, Isaac.
4. Blessing. God promises to bless Abraham personally and bless those who bless him while cursing those who curse him. This blessing extends not only to Abraham but to his descendants as well.
5. Blessing to all nations. God states that in Abraham, all the families of the earth will be blessed. This promise alludes to the coming of the Messiah, who would bring salvation to all humanity through Abraham's lineage.
The Abrahamic Covenant is renewed and elaborated upon in subsequent passages in Genesis, notably Genesis 15 and 17, establishing animal sacrifices, prophetic history, and the practice of circumcision to set the people of Abraham apart from all other nations.
The Abrahamic Covenant finds fulfillment in various ways throughout the Old Testament.
Abraham and Sarah miraculously have a son, Isaac, who becomes the father of Jacob (later named Israel). The 12 tribes of Israel emerge from Jacob’s descendants, fulfilling the promise of numerous offspring.
The Israelites, under the leadership of Moses and Joshua, enter the Promised Land of Canaan, beginning the fulfillment of God’s promise regarding the land.
How Was the Abrahamic Covenant Viewed in the Old Testament?
In the Old Testament, the Abrahamic Covenant held a central and foundational role in the religious beliefs and history of the Israelites.
However, over time, the focus gradually transitioned to the importance of the Mosaic Covenant while still recognizing the enduring significance of the Abrahamic Covenant.
The Abrahamic Covenant played a crucial role in identifying the Israelites as God's chosen people. It established a unique relationship between God and Abraham's descendants, marking them as a distinct nation with a divine purpose.
The Abrahamic Covenant highlighted the importance of faith and obedience. Abraham's faith in God's promises, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, was viewed as exemplary (Genesis 15:6).
The Abrahamic Covenant was often invoked by the prophets as a reminder of God's faithfulness and His enduring commitment to His people. It served as a source of hope during times of difficulty and exile.
A transition occurred with the introduction of the Mosaic Covenant through Moses. This new covenant, established at Mount Sinai, brought its own set of laws, regulations, and responsibilities for the Israelites.
The Mosaic Covenant was established when God delivered the Ten Commandments and the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20). This covenant was primarily focused on the relationship between God and the Israelites, outlining their moral and religious obligations.
The Mosaic Covenant introduced a comprehensive system of laws, rituals, and sacrifices. It emphasized the importance of obedience to God's commandments, ritual purity, and the worship of God through a specific priesthood.
It all further solidified the national and religious identity of the Israelites that began with Abraham. It defined their religious practices, social justice principles, and ethical guidelines.
While the Mosaic Covenant introduced a new set of laws, it did not annul or replace the Abrahamic Covenant. Instead, it built upon the foundation of the Abrahamic promises. The possession of the Promised Land and the multiplication of descendants were still central themes.
Is the Abrahamic Covenant Central to Christianity?
The writers of the New Testament view the Abrahamic Covenant as central to Christianity for several significant theological and spiritual reasons.
The Abrahamic Covenant, which God established with Abraham in the Old Testament, foreshadowed and laid the foundation for key aspects of Christian faith, doctrine, and salvation.
The New Testament apostles hardly mention the Mosaic Covenant as central. If anything, they view the Mosaic Covenant, or the Old Covenant, as harmful since it was reliant upon the ability of the people to fulfill godliness, which they couldn’t.
The New Covenant harkens back to the Abrahamic Covenant, the ultimate fulfillment of the promise to bless and redeem all nations.
1. Promise of blessing to all nations. The Abrahamic Covenant contains the promise that “all nations will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). This promise is understood by New Testament writers as a precursor to the universal scope of salvation brought through Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 3:8, the Apostle Paul explicitly connects the Abrahamic promise to the gospel, emphasizing that God "announced the gospel in advance to Abraham."
2. Justification by faith. The New Testament writers draw a connection between Abraham's faith and the concept of justification by faith in Christ, in contrast to being justified through the Law.
In Romans 4, Paul uses Abraham as an example of how faith leads to righteousness. He argues that just as Abraham believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness, so also believers in Christ are justified by their faith (Romans 4:3, 22-25).
3. Spiritual inheritance. The promise of being heirs of the world through faith, as mentioned in Romans 4:13, is linked to the Abrahamic Covenant. Believers are considered spiritual descendants of Abraham, sharing in the blessings of the covenant through faith in Christ.
4. Faith as the basis of covenant relationship. The New Testament writers highlight the significance of faith as the basis of a covenant relationship with God.
Abraham's unwavering faith in God's promises serves as a model for believers in Christ. The Book of Hebrews, in particular, emphasizes faith as the key to pleasing God and securing the promises of the covenant (Hebrews 11).
5. Fulfillment in Christ. The New Testament writers see the Abrahamic Covenant as being ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is regarded as the true Seed of Abraham through whom the blessings of the covenant are fully realized.
In Galatians 3:16, Paul explicitly states that “the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”
6. Incorporation of Gentiles. The inclusion of Gentiles (non-Jews) into the covenant community is a prominent theme in the New Testament. The writers view the Abrahamic Covenant as the precursor to this inclusion.
In Galatians 3:7-9, Paul asserts that those who have faith in Christ are “children of Abraham” and that “those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
7. Covenant of grace. The Abrahamic Covenant is seen as an expression of God’s grace. The New Testament writers emphasize that salvation, forgiveness, and righteousness come through faith and grace, not through works of the law.
This aligns with the understanding of the Abrahamic Covenant as a gracious promise from God, not a law.
8. Unity of the biblical story. The New Testament writers recognize the unity and continuity of the biblical narrative. They view the Abrahamic Covenant as a critical link in the chain of God’s redemptive plan, connecting the Old and New Testaments.
This is how they were able to teach the New Covenant with the Old Testament before there were writings we now consider the New Testament, which were central to this understanding of fulfillment.
The writers of the New Testament consider the Abrahamic Covenant as central to Christianity because it provides the theological framework for key Christian doctrines, such as justification by faith, the universal scope of salvation, and the gracious nature of God’s redemption now available to all nations through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For further reading:
What Do We Learn about Abraham in the Bible?
Why Was Abraham Chosen to be the Father of All Nations?
What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Before Abraham Was Born, I Am’?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/rudall30
