READING • GENESIS 13
A man who believed God
About two thousand years before the birth of Jesus, Abram lived in Ur of the Chaldees, in the region we now call Iraq. Scripture later calls Abraham God's friend (Isaiah 41:8). He lived among people who served other gods, but when the LORD called him, Abram believed and obeyed.
A message from God
God told Abram to leave his country, his relatives and his father's household, and to travel to a land that God would show him. The command required faith: Abram was being asked to leave what was familiar without yet knowing his destination.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
Genesis 12:1 • King James Version
The command came with remarkable promises:
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Genesis 12:2–3 • King James Version
Abram acted on what God had said. Hebrews describes the character of his faith:
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
Hebrews 11:8 • King James Version
The land of promise
Abram eventually entered Canaan with his wife Sarai (later called Sarah) and his nephew Lot. After Abram and Lot separated, God enlarged the promise and told Abram that the land he could see would belong to him and to his seed for ever.
“For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth.”
Genesis 13:15–16 (excerpt) • King James Version
Three great themes
The promises now include a LAND, a numerous SEED or descendants, and BLESSING that will ultimately reach all families of the earth.
A covenant that could not fail
Years passed and Abram still had no son by Sarah. In Genesis 15 God reassured him, pointing to the stars as a picture of the multitude that would come from him. Abram trusted God's word.
“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Genesis 15:6 • King James Version
God then confirmed His promise by covenant. In the ancient world, divided animals could be used in a solemn covenant ceremony. In Genesis 15, the symbols of God's presence pass between the pieces, showing that the fulfilment of the promise rests upon God's faithfulness.
“In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land.”
Genesis 15:18 (excerpt) • King James Version
What is a covenant?
A covenant is a solemn and binding promise. God repeatedly confirmed His promises to Abraham so that there could be no doubt about His purpose.
The promised child
God later changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah. Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5), and Sarah was about ninety. Isaac's birth therefore demonstrated that God could fulfil what humanly seemed impossible.
Genesis 22 records a severe test of Abraham's faith. God commanded him to offer Isaac, the uniquely promised son through whom the covenant line was to continue. Abraham obeyed because he was convinced that God would still keep His word.
“Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
Hebrews 11:19 • King James Version
God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac and provided a ram instead. The incident showed the depth of Abraham's trust and obedience. The promises were then repeated and enlarged.
“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
Genesis 22:18 • King James Version
Faith means trusting enough to obey
Abraham was not sinless, but he believed what God had promised and acted upon that belief. Scripture uses him as a great example of faith because his trust was shown in obedience, even when he could not yet see how God's purpose would be fulfilled.
A greater Seed than Isaac
The promises to Abraham reach far beyond Isaac and the natural descendants of Abraham. The opening verse of the New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as 'the son of David, the son of Abraham' (Matthew 1:1). Paul explains that the promise concerning Abraham's seed finds its central fulfilment in Christ.
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Galatians 3:16 • King James Version
The promised Seed
Jesus Christ is the central descendant through whom the worldwide blessing promised to Abraham is fulfilled. When Christ returns and establishes God's Kingdom, the promises concerning the land, the Kingdom and blessing to the nations will reach their appointed fulfilment.
We, too, may share the promises
The remarkable teaching of Galatians 3 is that men and women from every nation can become related to these promises. The basis is not natural ancestry but belonging to Christ. Paul connects this directly with faith and baptism into Christ.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:27–28 • King James Version
“And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:29 • King James Version
This is why the promises to Abraham matter to every student of the Gospel. Through Christ, believers may become heirs of the same promise and share the blessings of God's future Kingdom on earth.
What of Abraham himself?
Abraham died without receiving the full inheritance promised to him. Yet God's promise cannot fail. Hebrews says that Abraham and the other faithful died in faith, still looking forward to the fulfilment of the promises (Hebrews 11:13, 39–40). The promised inheritance therefore requires resurrection and everlasting life.
The promise was earthly, not heavenly
God promised Abraham the land in which he lived. The Bible's hope is that Abraham and the faithful will be raised from the dead and inherit God's Kingdom on earth when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.
The promises at a glance
REFERENCE
PROMISE
SIGNIFICANCE
Genesis 12:2
A great nation
The nation of Israel would develop from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob.
Genesis 12:2
God would bless Abraham
Abraham became the recipient of a special divine calling and covenant.
Genesis 12:3
Blessing to all families
The blessing ultimately reaches the nations through Jesus Christ.
Genesis 12:7
The land to Abraham’s seed
The promised land becomes a central part of God’s covenant purpose.
Genesis 13:15
The land to Abraham and his seed for ever
The promise points beyond Abraham’s mortal lifetime to future resurrection and inheritance.
Genesis 13:16
Descendants as the dust
Abraham would become the father of a numerous people.
Genesis 15:18
The covenant confirmed
God solemnly confirmed the land promise.
Genesis 22:18
All nations blessed in his seed
Paul identifies the central promised Seed as Christ (Galatians 3:16).
SUMMARY
God's promises to Abraham
1
Abraham was called to live by faith.
He left Ur because he trusted God, even though he did not know where God was leading him.
2
God promised Abraham land and descendants.
The land of Canaan was promised to Abraham and his seed, together with a great multitude of descendants.
3
God confirmed the promises by covenant.
The promises rest upon God’s faithfulness and cannot fail.
4
Isaac was the promised child.
His miraculous birth and the test in Genesis 22 showed both God’s power and Abraham’s trust.
5
Jesus Christ is the greater promised Seed.
Through Christ the blessing promised to Abraham is extended to people of all nations.
6
Believers may become heirs of the promise.
Those who belong to Christ through faith and baptism are counted as Abraham’s seed and may share the promised inheritance.
Chapter to read
Hebrews 11 — notice especially verses 8–19 and 39–40
LEARN BY HEART • GALATIANS 3:27–29
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:27–29 • King James Version
Christadelphian Bible Mission
Box CBM, 404 Shaftmoor Lane, Birmingham B28 8SZ, England
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 1