The Abrahamic covenant directly relates to all the nations of the world: in Abraham, all the families of the earth are blessed, and God blesses or curses nations based on how they treat Israel.
God told Abraham, "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee" and "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). Les Feldick emphasizes that this promise is all-encompassing and includes the whole human family, not just Israel. He also points to history, saying any empire that has opposed Israel has seen its own demise.
Genesis 12:1-3 — This is the core Abrahamic covenant text, promising that Abraham will become a great nation, that God will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him, and that all the earth will be blessed through him.
In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord 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: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." The Bible restates this promise with specific reference to the nations: "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 22:18). It also shows the promise flowing through Abraham's obedience: "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" (Genesis 26:5).
Les Feldick teaches that the Abrahamic covenant is the beginning of God's plan to make a great nation from Abraham—a people totally different from every other race on earth. That nation, Israel, would be the vehicle through which God would communicate redemption to the whole human race. The all-encompassing promise is "in thee shall all the earth be blessed," meaning the whole human family benefits, not just Israel (Clip 3, Clip 4). Les also stresses the promise, "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee," and says that over the last 4,000 years this has held true. Babylon, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and modern powers like Napoleon, Bismarck, Great Britain, and France have all opposed Israel and seen their own demise (Clip 0). The ultimate fulfillment of the covenant's blessing to the nations, Les explains, comes through Israel's Messiah being crucified and becoming the object of faith for the whole world—not just Israel (Clip 5). The covenant itself is eternal; man cannot destroy it or change it (Clip 7).
God's promise to Abraham is clear: "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee" (Genesis 12:3). Les Feldick says this is God's Word and God cannot go back on it. He points to history—Babylon, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and modern powers like Napoleon, Bismarck, Great Britain, and France—and says that every empire or nation that has come against Israel has seen its own demise.
The covenant makes Israel a great nation, separated from all other peoples. But the all-encompassing promise is "in thee shall all the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). Les emphasizes that just because Israel has a unique covenant role does not mean God has forgotten the non-Israelite. The whole human family benefits from the covenant God made with Abraham.
The final part of the Abrahamic covenant—"in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed"—is fulfilled through Abraham's seed. Les says this happened when Israel's Messiah was crucified and became the object of faith, not just for Israel, but for the whole world. This is how the nations of the earth receive the blessing promised to Abraham.
Les teaches that man has nothing to do with the covenant whatsoever. Man may break it and do all kinds of things with it, but that does not destroy the covenant. The covenant is from God and is eternal. Nothing that man—or even the nation of Israel—can do can change that the covenant is forever.
God Blesses/Curse Nations According to Their Treatment of Israel
God's covenant word cannot go back: any nation or empire that has opposed Israel, from Babylon to Great Britain and France, has seen its own demise.
Israel as a Separated Nation for Redemption
God promised Abraham a nation totally different from all other peoples, and that nation would be the vehicle through which God would bring redemption to the whole human race.
In Thy Seed Shall All Nations Be Blessed
The Abrahamic covenant includes the promise that all nations of the earth would be blessed in Abraham's seed, and Abraham's obedience is mentioned in connection with the covenant.
In Thee Shall All Families of the Earth Be Blessed
The epitome of the covenant is that through Abraham, all families of the earth would be blessed—not just Israel, but the whole human family.
God Has Not Forgotten Non-Israelites
The all-encompassing part of the covenant says in thee shall all the earth be blessed, so Israel's unique role does not mean God forgot the non-Israelite.
The Nations Blessed Through Israel's Messiah
The last statement of the Abrahamic covenant—"in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed"—is fulfilled when Israel's Messiah is crucified and becomes the object of faith for the whole world.
The Importance of the Word 'Nation'
God promises to make Abraham a great nation, and the all-encompassing promise is that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed.
The Covenant Is Eternal
Man has no part in making the covenant; it is from God and eternal. Nothing man or Israel can do can change it.
Genesis 12:1: 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:
This verse sets the stage for the covenant, showing God's initiative in calling Abram to a land and a new beginning.
Genesis 12:2: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
The covenant begins with the promise of a great nation, which is foundational to Israel's role among the nations.
Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This verse directly answers the question: the covenant brings blessing or cursing to nations based on their treatment of Israel and extends blessing to all the earth.
Genesis 22:18: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
This restates the covenant with emphasis on Abraham's seed and the blessing of all nations.
Genesis 26:5: Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
This verse is referenced by Les in connection with the covenant promise of blessing to all nations through Abraham's obedience.
Yes. Genesis 12:3 says, "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Les Feldick emphasizes that this is the all-encompassing part of the covenant, meaning the whole human family benefits, not just Israel.
This is part of the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 12:3. Les Feldick teaches that this promise has held true throughout history, and he cites ancient empires like Babylon, Greece, and Rome, as well as modern powers like Napoleon, Bismarck, Great Britain, and France, as examples of nations that opposed Israel and saw their own demise.
The nations are blessed through Abraham's seed—specifically through Israel's Messiah. Les Feldick explains that the covenant promise, "in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed," is fulfilled when that Messiah is crucified and becomes the object of faith for the whole world.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15