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Wednesday, August 5, 2020

God's Covenant With Abraham, Senior - I, Lesson - 7

SENIOR

AGE GROUP: 14 - 15 YEARS

STANDARD (GRADE): IX & X

Permission is granted only for free distribution among Sunday School children.

No part of this document can be modified, sold or used for any commercial purpose.

LESSON – 7

GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

God Calls Abraham 

Abram (later called Abraham) was the son of Terah. Abram lived with his wife Sarai in a land called Ur of the Chaldees, presently situated in Iraq. They did not have any children. One day, God told Abram to leave the place where he was staying and to go to the land, He would show him. God also made a covenant with Abraham.

Covenant

A covenant is an agreement between two persons or parties. There are two types of covenants. They are unconditional and conditional. An unconditional or unilateral covenant is an agreement between two persons or parties, but only one of the two persons takes the lead in fulfilling the responsibilities and nothing is expected from the other person or party. Nothing is required of the other party.

A conditional covenant is an agreement that is binding on both parties for its fulfillment which means that there are certain responsibilities to be fulfilled by persons on both sides. If any one of them fail to meet their responsibilities, the covenant is broken and neither party has to fulfill the expectations of the covenant. An example of this conditional covenant was made between Laban and Jacob (Genesis 31:44 - 54). We can learn about some of the rituals that were done while making a covenant from this passage. 

Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org.

 A stone pillar (31:45), such as Jacob had set up in Bethel.

·        A heap of stones (31:46-49) which they named Mizpah (watchtower) and Galeed or Jegar Sahadutha (witness heap).

·        Calling upon the LORD as witness and guarantor of the covenant: "May the LORD watch between you and me...." (31:49b).

·        A Promise from Jacob not to mistreat his wives, nor to take rival wives to displace them from their status (31:50).

·        A Peace treaty: "I will not pass beyond this heap to you …...... for harm" (31:51-52).

·        An oath in the name of God (31:53).

·        A sacrifice and meal together (31:54).

There are so many other references in the Bible about making covenants wherein all these steps or atleast most of these steps are mentioned.

The Abrahamic covenant

John Paul Stanley / YoPlace.com.

The covenant God made with Abraham is called Abrahamic Covenant. God’s covenant with Abraham is regarded as generally unconditional based on Genesis 12: 1-3 and Genesis 15th chapter, but it was followed by another covenant that was conditional in Genesis 17. It required Abraham to be righteous and blameless before God for God's promises to be fulfilled. God also established the ritual of circumcision as part of the covenant. 

Rite of Circumcision

God gave Abraham the rite of circumcision as a part of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:9 - 14). All males who descend through Abraham were to be circumcised and thus carry with them a lifelong mark in their flesh that they were part of God’s covenant. Any descendant of Abraham who was uncircumcised was outside of God’s covenant.

The three main features of Abrahamic Covenant 

1. The promise of land - God called Abraham to a land that He would give him (Genesis 12:1). 

2. The promise of descendants - God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of him (Genesis 12:2). Abraham was 75 years old and childless when God promised him numerous descendants. This promise was amplified in Genesis 17:6 where God promised that nations and kings would descend from Abraham. 

3. The promise of blessing and redemption - God promised to bless Abraham and nations would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). 

Abraham Believed in God

God changed the name of Abram to Abraham which meant “Father of many” because he was going to become the father of many nations. His wife’s name was changed from Sarai meaning “Princess” to Sarah which meant “Mother of Nations”. God changed Abram and Sarai's name even before their son, Isaac was born. Abraham believed in God's promises without any doubt and Abraham's faith pleased God. Abraham was even called as a "friend of God".

God's Promises Fulfilled

God blessed Abraham with the promised son, Isaac, when he was 100 years old and Sarai was 75 years old. Through Isaac and his descendants, many great nations in the middle east, including the nation of Israel were formed. Kings and rulers also came through his descendants. The messiah “Jesus Christ” was also revealed through Abraham’s descendants. 

Abrahamic Blessings for the Gentiles

The Abrahamic blessings pronounced on Abraham and his descendants can be inherited by gentiles also. Gentiles mentioned in the Holy Bible are people who are not part of the Abrahamic covenant. The English word “Gentile” is derived from the Latin word “Gentilis” which referred to non-Israelite people. Through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the Jews and gentiles were made as one. Anyone who puts his faith in Jesus Christ can be an heir of the promises God made to Abraham and receive the blessings of Abraham. Galatians 3:6-9 states that “So also Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness... So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:29 also makes this clear: "If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise." We are children of Abraham if we live by faith in the promises of God summed up in Christ. The gentiles can become beneficiaries of the Abrahamic blessings through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Bible Reference: Genesis 12, 15, 17, 21:1-8 

Memory Verse: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise (Hebrews 11:8, 9 NKJV) 

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY

I.      Fill in the Blanks:

1. …………………….. was later called as Abraham.

2. Abraham was 75 years old and childless when God promised him numerous ………………………………. .

3. God gave Abraham the rite of ………………………… as a part of the Abrahamic Covenant.

4.  ……………………….. are people who are not part of the Abrahamic covenant.

 

II.  Give short answers:

1. What is a covenant?

 

 

2. Why was the rite of circumcision given?

 

 

3. How did God fulfill His promises to Abraham?

 

 

4. What should gentiles do to receive the Abrahamic blessings?

 

 

III.          Give brief answers:

1. Write in brief about Abrahamic covenant and it’s three main features.

 


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