The significance of the Abrahamic Covenant is that it is God's unconditional promise to Abraham of a nation, a land, and a coming King/Messiah, and it is the foundation of God's redemptive plan through Israel.
Les Feldick identifies the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12:1-3 and explains that because this covenant originates and ends with God, it can never be broken, rescinded, or invalidated. Within it, God promised Abraham a nation (Israel), a geographical land, and a King/Government — the Messiah, who would also be Redeemer and Savior. Through Israel, God purposed to bring redemption and blessing to the whole human race.
Genesis 12:1-3 — This is the passage Les identifies as the Abrahamic Covenant, containing God's promises of a nation, blessing, and worldwide blessing.
Genesis 22:18 — This verse records the promise that in Abraham's seed all nations would be blessed because Abraham obeyed God's voice.
Exodus 2:24 — This verse shows God remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when He heard Israel's groaning.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God commanded Abram to leave his country and kindred, and promised to make of him a great nation, to bless him, and to make his name great. God further promised, "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." In Genesis 12:7, God appeared to Abram and promised, "Unto thy seed will I give this land." After Abraham's obedience, Genesis 22:18 repeats the seed promise: "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Later, when Israel groaned in Egypt, Exodus 2:24 says, "God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."
Les Feldick teaches that the Abrahamic Covenant is found in Genesis 12:1-3 and is an agreement that originates and ends in God. Even though God made it with Abraham and it would eventually fall to the nation of Israel, because it originates and ends in God it is never broken, never rescinded, and never becomes invalid — regardless of what man does. He tells students to mark these verses in their Bibles as the Abrahamic Covenant. Les summarizes the covenant as three basic promises: first, God would make of Abraham a great nation — the nation of Israel, a people distinct from every other race on earth; second, He would give that nation a geographical area of land; and third, since people living in a land require government, God would come and be their King — the Son of God, the Messiah, and also their Redeemer and Savior. Within these three promises, Les says, all the other covenants are involved. Les also teaches that Israel was the vehicle through which God intended to communicate and bring about the whole plan of redemption for the human race, and he points out that everything from the Gospels through Acts is built on the Abrahamic Covenant, as seen when God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Les Feldick breaks the Abrahamic Covenant into three promises. First, God promised Abraham a nation of people — the nation of Israel. Second, because a nation must have territory, God promised that nation a geographical area of land (the Promised Land / today's nation of Israel). Third, because people with land need government, God promised to come and be their King and Messiah, their Redeemer and Savior. Les says all the other covenants are involved within these three promises.
Les explains that a covenant, by definition, is an agreement that originates and ends in God. Even though it is made with man, since it originates and ends with God it never becomes invalid, never broken, never rescinded — regardless of what man does. He also points out that God heard Israel's groaning and "remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob," showing that God Himself was bound to act on it.
The third promise of the Abrahamic Covenant is that when the nation of Israel is in its land, they will have a government. Les teaches that God would come and be their King, and that this King is the Son of God, the Messiah, who would also be their Redeemer and Savior. He also connects the covenant promise "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" to Abraham's obedience, showing that the Messiah's blessing would reach the whole world through Israel.
Why the Old Testament Never Predicted the Church Age
said, Tell me, who in the world is Jesus Christ? Now at the time it shook me up, and I thought, How could anybody ask a question like that? But now, some 5-6 years after that, all I ask is, Why don't more people ask that very question? Because most people don't know who He is. Oh, they know He was born at Bethlehem, and they know He went through a crucifixion.
Definition and inviolability of the covenant
Les defines the Abrahamic covenant as an agreement that originates and ends in God, so it can never become invalid, broken, or rescinded no matter what man does.
Why Israel was chosen
Les explains that God promised Abraham a nation different from all others, and that Israel would be the vehicle through which God would bring redemption to the whole human race.
Location of the covenant in Scripture
Les tells students to mark Genesis 12:2-3 as the Abrahamic covenant, emphasizing that it is unbreakable and irrevocable even though Abram and Sarah were old and childless.
Seed of Abraham and worldwide blessing
Les points to the covenantal promise that in Abraham's seed all nations of the earth will be blessed, connecting it to Abraham's obedience.
Land as part of the covenant
Les explains that a nation requires land, so God's promise of a nation to Abraham necessarily includes a geographical territory and, in turn, a government.
Three-fold covenant summary
Les summarizes the Abrahamic covenant as three promises: a nation of people, a geographical land, and a King/Messiah who is also Redeemer and Savior.
Foundation for later biblical events
Les stresses that everything through the Gospels and Acts is based on the Abrahamic covenant — nation, land, and the Son of God as King and Messiah.
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 to Abram begins the covenant promises that follow in verses 2 and 3.
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:
God's first promise is to make Abraham a great nation.
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.
God promises that all families of the earth will be blessed in Abraham.
Genesis 12:7: And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
God promises the land of Canaan to Abraham's seed.
Genesis 22:18: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God repeats the promise that in Abraham's seed all nations will be blessed because of his obedience.
Exodus 2:24: And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
God's remembrance of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the basis for His deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
Les Feldick points to Genesis 12:1-3, specifically verses 2 and 3, as the passage students should mark as the Abrahamic Covenant. This is where God promises to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, and to bless all families of the earth in him.
According to Les, the covenant contains three basic promises: first, God would make a great nation from Abraham (Israel); second, He would put that nation in a geographical land; and third, He would come and be their King and Messiah, their Redeemer and Savior.
No. Les teaches that a covenant is an agreement that originates and ends with God. Even though it is made with man, because it originates and ends with God it is never broken, never rescinded, and never becomes invalid regardless of what man does.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Old Testament Never Predicted the Church Age