God's covenant with Abram is the foundational, unbreakable promise by which God would make of Abram a great nation and bless all the families of the earth through him.
In Genesis 12:1-3 God calls Abram out of his country, kindred, and father's house and promises to make him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, make him a blessing, and bless or curse others according to how they treat him. Les emphasizes that this covenant is from God to man, unbreakable and irrevocable, and that God has not changed His mind. Its ultimate reach is that in Abram all families of the earth are blessed.
Genesis 12:1-3 — These verses record the covenant itself, including the promises that answer the question directly.
In Genesis 12:1-3 God speaks directly to Abram. He commands him to leave his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and to go to a land that God will show him. Then God gives His covenant promises: '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.'
Les identifies Genesis 12:2-3 as the Abrahamic covenant — a covenant from God to man that is unbreakable and irrevocable. Man has nothing to do with the covenant, and even the nation of Israel cannot change or destroy it. Les explains the promises: God will make Abram a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing; God will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him. The all-encompassing promise is that in Abram all the families of the earth will be blessed. This means more than Israel — the whole human family would benefit from the covenant God made with this man. Les also sets the historical backdrop: Abram came out of a pagan society where even his father Terah served other gods, and later relatives still had household idols. God called this one man from Ur of the Chaldeans to bring about a nation totally different from all other peoples — Israel — through whom God would communicate and accomplish the whole plan of redemption. When God said 'great nation,' He did not mean great in numbers; Israel has never exceeded about 15 million people. The covenant is still in force, because God has not changed His mind and man cannot undo what God has promised.
In Genesis 12:1-3 God commands Abram to leave his country, kindred, and father's house for a land God would show him. Then God promises: '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.' These promises form the core of the covenant.
Les calls Genesis 12:2-3 the Abrahamic covenant. He explains that a covenant is from God to man, and that this one is unbreakable and irrevocable. Man has nothing to do with it; even the nation of Israel cannot change it. The covenant is eternal. God made it to Abram and Sarah when they were old and still had no child, showing that it depends entirely on God.
The Bible says in Abram 'shall all families of the earth be blessed.' Les calls this the epitome of the whole covenant promise. He explains that it is not just Israel who benefits; the whole human family would benefit from the promises and the covenant God is making with Abram. In other words, through Abraham all families of the earth are blessed.
Les says that when God told Abram, 'I will make of thee a great nation,' He was not speaking in terms of numbers or military power. Israel has never gone over about 15 million people. Instead, God was speaking of a nation totally different from any other race of people on earth — a nation God would use as the vehicle to bring about the whole plan of redemption to the human race. The covenant also included the land and God's eventual reign as King.
Les sets the backdrop: out of a pagan society, even Abram's father Terah served other gods. Later, Laban was upset that his daughters had brought their gods with them. This shows how completely pagan the world was. Into that world, God called Abram and promised to make a nation through him.
Abram's Pagan Background
Les describes the pagan world into which God's call came, noting that Abram's father Terah served other gods and that later relatives still had household idols.
Covenant Depends on God Alone
Les stresses that the covenant is from God and eternal, that man has nothing to do with it, and that God promised to make Abram a great nation, bless him, and make him a blessing.
Core Promises of the Covenant
Les walks through Genesis 12:1-3 and emphasizes the all-encompassing promise that in Abram all families of the earth will be blessed.
Blessing for All Families
Les explains that 'in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed' means the whole human family would benefit from the covenant, not just Israel.
God Has Not Changed His Mind
Les affirms that the covenant promises in Genesis 12:1-3 demonstrate that God has not changed His mind.
Great Nation Is Not About Numbers
Les clarifies that God's promised 'great nation' is not defined by numbers or military power, since Israel has never exceeded about 15 million people.
Israel as the Vehicle of Redemption
Les explains that God promised to make of Abraham a nation totally different from every other people, and through that nation God would carry out His plan of redemption for the whole human race.
The Abrahamic Covenant Defined
Les identifies Genesis 12:2-3 as the Abrahamic covenant, an unbreakable, irrevocable covenant from God to man, made when Abram and Sarah were old and childless.
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 begins the covenant call, with God commanding Abram to separate from his country, kindred, and father's house.
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:
This verse contains the core promises of the covenant: a great nation, blessing, a great name, and becoming a blessing.
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 extends the covenant to all families of the earth and shows how God will treat those who bless or curse Abram.
No. Les says man has nothing to do with the covenant. It is from God and is unbreakable and irrevocable, so even if man breaks it, the covenant remains forever.
No. Les explains that this is the epitome of the covenant promise: in Abram all families of the earth are blessed — not just Israel, but the whole human family benefits from the covenant God made with this man.
No. Les states plainly that God has not changed His mind, and the covenant is eternal. Nothing that man or the nation of Israel can do can change it.
It is the covenant God made with Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, promising a great nation, personal blessing, a great name, and blessing for all families of the earth through him.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15