What does God promise Abraham in Genesis 13:16?
God promised Abraham that He would make his offspring as the dust of the earth, so numerous that if a person could count the dust particles, then Abraham's seed could also be numbered. This pointed to a great multitude descending through Isaac and Jacob, the nation of Israel.
Les explains that Genesis 13:16 enlarges on the covenant promise of chapter 12. God says He will make Abraham's seed, or offspring, as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust particles, then Abraham's seed also shall be numbered. Les notes this means there would be a great offspring of Abraham through the line of Isaac and Jacob, or in the nation of Israel. Although Israel has been a small nation over 4,000 years of time, tremendous numbers of people have come out of this covenant promise. Les then contrasts this with Genesis 15:5, where God does something totally different: He gives Abraham a promise that ties him to us, and the context describes God bringing him forth, dealing with him face to face, possibly taking on human form, as at the calling out of Ur, and evident later in Genesis 18.
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
More Questions
What do the stars and the dust represent in God's promises to Abraham?
The stars represent a heavenly realm and the dust represents an earthly realm; they are two completely different realms.