The Abrahamic Covenant

How are we justified by YHWH? This question has been raging through the church for 2,000 years and the various answers usually find a root in Abraham’s story. Therefore, I cannot overstate the importance of Genesis 15 and 17 in the narrative of the Bible as a whole and, specifically, what it means to be righteous.

Genesis 15 and 17 are often cited as the source for the Abrahamic covenant. These two narratives use different language and explain different ceremonies attached to the covenant. Bible scholars answer this supposed contradiction in one of two ways: 1) the stories were passed down through different groups of people and combined to make one story (documentary or supplementary hypothesis) or 2) these are two different covenants - one of belief, one of works.

Both of these paradigms cloud our understanding and lead to confusion. One lessens YHWH’s role in assembling the Scriptures, potentially chipping away at the faithfulness of Scripture. The other teaches that the first covenant was an unconditional covenant, foreshadowing the elimination of Torah.

The implications of each understanding are far reaching - influencing the writings of Paul and effecting our understanding of Torah even today.

YHWH is not the author of confusion so there must be some other reason to explain the differences.

When we take a step back and examine the entirety of Abraham’s life, we see that neither of these explanations is complete. The Abrahamic covenant is not one event told multiple ways, nor is it different covenants. The covenants in Gen 15 and 17 are not two separate covenants, but one covenant that is revisited, not twice, but four times over Abraham’s life in Genesis chapters 12-22.

The argument that any of covenants was unconditional is unfounded. Obedience was required in each of the four interactions.

· Abram had to leave Ur. (12)

· Abram had to gather materials for the offering. (15)

· Abraham had to be circumcised. (17)

· Abraham had to offer his son. (22)

The covenant is first stated in Genesis 12 with YHWH calling Abram out of his hometown and promises him land, children, and blessing to the nations (Gen 12:1-3).

Sometime later, the land experienced a drought and Abram doubted the promise of the land. He left the land YHWH had given him and fled to Egypt.

In Genesis 15, YHWH reminds Abram of the covenant. Abram had already been promised land and children. In this light, Abram’s frustration makes more sense. He cries, “O YHWH! What will you give me? I continue childless!” He was promised a nation and he doesn’t have a single child yet! YHWH restates the promise of land, children, and blessing to the nations and gives Abram a few more details about the covenant. He also offers a sign of His faithfulness with the offerings.

Eventually, Abram doubted the promise again - this time the seed element. At his wife’s suggestion, Abram had a son with Hagar. In Genesis 17, YHWH came to Abram again and restated the covenant. YHWH added even more details and instituted a sign (circumcision) as a reminder for Abram.

At this time, YHWH also instructed Abram to “walk perfectly before Him” and then changed his name to Abraham, implying that Abram has to change his character, his behavior.

Finally, in Gen 22, YHWH tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his promised son (vs 1). Abraham passes this test and YHWH restates the covenant one final time, this time with emphasis, “I will bless bless you and multiply multiply you.”

The story of the Abrahamic covenant is really a story of YHWH’s love and mercy for His people. YHWH made one covenant with Abraham that was addressed four times over the course of his life. Each time YHWH restated the covenant, He added signs as reminders, encouraging Abraham to walk perfectly. By the end of his life, Abraham was able to confidently say, “God will provide.”

YHWH has done the same for all of us. He has called us out the world to become a people set-apart to Him. He then offers us training in righteous living through the Torah. Abraham accepted YHWH as his shield. That same grace is extended to us. Do we choose to trust and obey?

I pray this study opens your eyes to the beauty and manifold wisdom of YHWH Elohim. And I pray that you hear His voice, promising to be your shield, calling you to His way, His, purpose, and His Kingdom.

Click on the image to access the full PDF study.

In the full study, the structures of Gen 15 and 17 are highlighted to reveal connections to creation, the exodus, and Paul’s discussions of belief and works in Romans 4 and Galations 3-5.