COVENANT AND FAITH

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My Covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly” – Genesis 17:1-2

God enacted a covenant with Abraham, consisting of a Seven-fold Promise and Circumcision as the sign. This was the crux of the Abrahamic covenant: “Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen.12:1-3). The Seven-fold Promise of the covenant was as follows:

• “I will make of you a great nation”
• “I will make your name great”
• “You shall be a blessing”
• “I will bless them that bless you”
• “I will bless you”
• “I will curse them that curse you”
• “In you shall the nations of the world be blessed”

Embedded in this covenant were Promises of Greatness and Multiplication: “And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth…” (Gen.13:16). This covenant was reaffirmed in Genesis 15 and 17, and sealed with circumcision. In due time, Abraham’s servant could testify: “The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great: and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys” (Gen.24:35). This covenant was renewed with Isaac, Jacob, and down the ages, to Christ: “And I will establish MY COVENANT between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you”  (Gen.17:7).

By faith, we who are in Christ can appropriate the blessings of this same Covenant: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the BLESSING of ABRAHAM might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through FAITH” (Gal.3:13-14). By faith I can declare: “In Jesus name, God’s seed of greatness is in me. He will make me great. He will make my name great. I am blessed beyond curses. The Lord will curse those who curse me and bless those who bless me. My blessings abound and overflow. I will be a blessing in my location and to nations and generations.” Alleluia!