The covenant with Abram
“On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the River of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.’” (Genesis 15:18). So, God called Abram to go to the land He would show him. When Abram arrived in the land, he was sent; God promised Abram that his descendants would inhabit all the land where he is now. (Genesis 13:15 – 17). While Abram believed that God would do what He promised; however, he was not certain how God would accomplish the promise. (Genesis 15:4 – 6). So, Abram inquired of God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain the possession of this land? (Genesis 15:8). Because Abram believed that God would fulfill what He promised, God credited it as Abram’s righteousness.
Nevertheless, Abram was unsure how God would fulfill it since his wife Sara could not have children. Abram could not see how his descendants would inherit the land since he did not have descendants. Abraham received righteousness from God even though Abram did not yet know God. He only knew about God who spoke to him.
By performing a ceremony practiced by humans while making a covenant (irrevocable promise), God assured Abram that His covenant with him would become a reality. In the form of a firepot with the blazing torch, God passed between the animal halves that Abram prepared. Thus, God assured Abram that the covenant He made (cut) with him was irrevocable (Genesis 15:17).
Joshua partially fulfilled God’s covenant with Abram. He brought the descendants of Abraham into the land which God promised to Abraham. However, Joshua did not conquer the whole of the land God promised to give to Abram’s descendants. The promised land extended from the River of Egypt in the Sinai Peninsula to the River Euphrates. However, the descendants of Abram rested before they conquered the hill country north of the Lake of Galilee.
Nevertheless, God gave peace to the 12 Tribes of Israel. The surrounding nations could not threaten the people of Israel. God gave them rest on every side, as He promised their ancestors. (Joshua 21:44).
To be continued in the next blog.
