The Abrahamic covenant is God's unbreakable, three-part promise to make Abraham a great nation, place them in a land, and give them a King-Messiah.
Les identifies the covenant promises as Israel, the land, and God Himself coming as King, Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior. Because the covenant originates and ends with God, it can never be invalidated or rescinded. It is significant because it explains God's separate dealings with Israel and the Gentiles, and it underlies the Gospels and Acts.
Genesis 12:2-3 — Records God's foundational promises to Abram—great nation, blessing, and blessing or cursing for those who interact with him.
Exodus 2:24 — Shows God remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when Israel groaned in Egypt.
Genesis 12:1-3 sets out the covenant promises God made to Abram. In verse 2 God says, '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.' Verse 3 continues, '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.' Later, when Israel groaned in Egypt, Exodus 2:24 says, 'And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.'
Les identifies Genesis 12:2-3 as the Abrahamic covenant and instructs his students to mark it in their Bibles. He teaches that a covenant is an agreement that originates and ends in God; although it is made with man, it never becomes invalid, is never broken, and is never rescinded. Les summarizes the covenant as three promises: out of Abraham would come the nation of Israel, that nation would be placed in a geographical land, and God Himself would come as their King, Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior. He says there is nothing more important in the Old Testament than this covenant made at 2000 B.C., and that everything through the Gospels and well into Acts is based on it. He also says failure to understand this covenant causes confusion about the difference between God's plan for Israel and His subsequent work among the Gentiles.
Les points to Genesis 12:1-3 and specifically identifies verses 2 and 3 as the Abrahamic covenant. He notes that God made this covenant with Abram when Abram was old and Sarah was only a few years younger, and they had never had a child.
Les explains that the covenant promises a nation of people—the nation of Israel—a geographical area of land, and government. He says a nation cannot exist without land, and people in a geographical area need government. The third part of the covenant is God Himself coming as their King and Messiah, and also their Redeemer and Savior.
No. Les repeatedly teaches that the covenant originates with God and ends in God. Even though it is made with man, man cannot break it, rescind it, or invalidate it. It remains unbreakable and irrevocable.
Les says confusion in Christendom comes from failing to differentiate between what God determined to do with the nation of Israel and what He did after Israel rejected it and He turned to the Gentiles. Understanding the Abrahamic covenant is necessary to put these things together. He also says everything that happens all the way up through the Gospels and well into the book of Acts is based on this covenant.
Les teaches that God promised Abraham that out of him would come a nation of people totally different from any other race, and that nation would be the vehicle through which God would communicate and bring about the whole plan of redemption to the whole human race through Israel.
Why This Covenant Matters
Les says understanding the Abrahamic covenant is necessary to distinguish God's plan for Israel from His later work among the Gentiles.
Covenant Is Unbreakable
Les defines the Abrahamic covenant as an agreement originating and ending in God, so it is never invalidated or rescinded.
Israel as Vehicle for Redemption
Les explains God promised Abraham a unique nation through whom God would bring the plan of redemption to the human race.
Covenant Behind Gospels and Acts
Les shows that events in the Gospels and Acts are based on the Abrahamic covenant, and God remembered this covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Nation, Land, Government
Les demonstrates that a nation requires land and government, making the three promises of the covenant necessary.
Central Importance in the Old Testament
Les calls the Abrahamic covenant the most important thing in the Old Testament, given at 2000 B.C. to bring about Israel.
Genesis 12:2-3 as the Covenant
Les instructs readers to mark Genesis 12:2-3 as the Abrahamic covenant, an unbreakable, irrevocable promise from God to Abram.
Three Promises of the Covenant
Les summarizes the three promises: Israel as a nation, the promised land, and God coming as King, Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior.
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:
God's call of Abram begins the passage Les identifies as the Abrahamic covenant.
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 promises of a great nation and personal 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 adds the promise of blessing and cursing toward those who interact with Abram, and blessing for all families.
Exodus 2:24: And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
God's later action for Israel is explicitly tied to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Les summarizes them as a great nation (Israel), a geographical land, and a government—God Himself coming as King, Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior.
No. Les teaches that the covenant originates and ends in God, so it is unbreakable, irrevocable, and never rescinded even though man is involved.
Les points to Genesis 12:2-3, after God's call of Abram in verse 1, as the Abrahamic covenant.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Plan for Israel vs. Gentiles: Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant