What did God first tell Abram to do before making the covenant promises?
Before making the covenant promises, God told Abram to leave his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and go to a land that God would show him. Only after that command did God promise to make of Abram a great nation and bless all families of the earth.
Les explains that because Paul uses Abraham as the epitome of faith, we should go back to Genesis 12 and examine the Abrahamic Covenant. He points out that in Genesis chapter 11 the Lord had said to Abram, 'Get thee out of thy country, from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee.' Then God makes the covenant promises: He would make of Abram a great nation, the nation of Israel; He would bless him materially and spiritually; He would make his name great; Abram would be a blessing; God would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him; and in Abram all families of the earth would be blessed. Les emphasizes that the Abrahamic Covenant is the benchmark of everything believers rest on by faith and faith alone, and he notes he is coming from the top down rather than the bottom up, going back further to Genesis chapter 3.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
More Questions
Where in Genesis did God first tell Abram to leave his country and kindred?
God's command for Abram to leave his country, his kindred, and his father's house for a land God would show him was given back in Genesis chapter 11.
Why did God tell Abram to leave his country and father's house?
God told Abram to leave his country, his relatives, and his father's house because Abram's family were idolaters.