PROMISE TO ABRAHAM – PART THREE
Monday – November 20, 2017
I will be continuing with our Bible Study of the wonderful Book of Hebrews. I have been presenting what God said to Abraham and I will continue with that material. The promises of God to Abram confirmed by Blood Covenant are indispensable to our present salvation. Now, let us review our primary text and move into this very important material. We are watching the unfolding of The Blood Covenant.
Hebrews 6:12-15 (KJV)
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Our focus is on verse thirteen and the phrase “when God made promise to Abraham”. Thirteen is the number of depravity and rebellion. The depravity of sin and rebellion against God prevailed in that day just as in this present day, to which we are all firsthand witnesses. This Blood Covenant that God (Jehovah) wants to consummate with Abraham is the cure for the curse. The depravity and rebellion which came by way of sin through the deceptions of The Serpent brought the curse. The curse is operational throughout the whole earth in the lives of all peoples. The focus of the curse is the quality of people’s lives just as the focus of the blessing is the quality of people’s lives. One is focused on stealing, killing, and destroying and the other on bringing abundance. When I say the Blood Covenant is the cure for the curse I am saying that those who will accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can walk free of the curse.
We started our study of God’s Promise to Abraham, and I might say Abraham’s promise to God, with the twelfth chapter of Genesis which is the first recorded conversation between God and Abraham. The person talking to Abraham is the LORD which is Yahweh or the One we now call our Heavenly Father. The LORD commands Abram/Abraham to separate himself entirely from all of his family, all of his past, all of his old life, and by obedience into a new life. Abram is told that when He is obedient the LORD will make him a great nation, he will be blessed, his name will be great, and he will be a blessing. Furthermore, the LORD told Abram that those who blessed him would be blessed however those who cursed him would themselves be cursed. The text from Genesis 12:3 indicates that Yahweh Himself will see to it that those who bless Abram are blessed and those who curse Abram are cursed. These promises of God extends to all the natural and spiritual seed of Abram. This includes the Israelis of today and we the Church. God’s promises extend to the children, the house of those who love Him and keep His commandments generationally for a thousand generations or ten-thousand years. Then the LORD utters those wonderful words that reverberate down through time to us, “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”.
Abram did partially obey God (common among the people of God) and left Haran (the obedient part) however he took Lot (the disobedient part), a nephew, with him and entered Canaan. As we study our texts in Genesis and Hebrews we see the broad strokes of this New Covenant, this all important Blood Covenant, coming into view. Until then and continuing until Jesus’ innocent Blood is shed at Calvary the innocent blood of animals covered the sins of those who would honor God. As we progressed further in chapter twelve of Genesis we find The LORD appearing unto Abram and saying: “Unto thy seed will I give this land”. I pointed out that the word “seed” is masculine in gender and singular in number thus referring to Christ. You may recall that when they entered Canaan there was a famine in the land and Abram traveled into Egypt. Egypt was a refuge for them and would be again in the time of Jacob and Joseph. Egypt is a type and shadow of the devil and his bondage. If you read through the text you will see that Abram did not consult with God at all, he just went into Egypt. I wonder if any of us have ever done that? Have we learned from it? You will also see there was trouble in Egypt, apparently Abram was prone to lying or telling half-truths. When the King of Egypt (Pharaoh) made things right with Abram through Abram’s prayer God made thing right for Pharaoh (those who bless you I will bless [Genesis 12:3]). In the end however they leave Egypt and go back into Canaan.
As we proceed down through the Genesis text we find that Abram and Lot by association are becoming very rich. Trouble develops between them and they finally separate in chapter thirteen of Genesis. Immediately after Abram and Lot separate the LORD again speaks to Abram. Delayed obedience is better than no obedience. Don’t miss the timing or the significance of having left Egypt (had no business there) and separating from Lot.
Genesis 13: 14-18 (KJV)
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
On the map I have presented you will see that the plain of Mamre in Hebron is in the southern aspect of what is now commonly referred to as the West Bank (in green). Tomorrow I will pick up with Abram’s response to the Word of the LORD.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (GW)
24 The LORD will bless you and watch over you.
25 The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you.
26 The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.’
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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