7. The Covenant with Abraham
Sabbath Afternoon
Prayer Thought
This same covenant was renewed to Abraham in the promise, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Genesis 22:18. This promise pointed to Christ. So Abraham understood it, and he trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It was this faith that was accounted unto him for righteousness. The covenant with Abraham also maintained the authority of God's law. The Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." The testimony of God concerning His faithful servant was, "Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Genesis 17:1; 26:5. . . . {FLB 77.3}
The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it is called the "second," or "new," covenant, because the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant. {FLB 77.4}
The covenant of grace is not a new truth, for it existed in the mind of God from all eternity. This is why it is called the everlasting covenant. {FLB 77.5}
Memory Verse
And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house [is] this Eliezer of Damascus? {Gen. 15:2}
This week's SS Lesson will review how God works through His covenant to Abraham and its relativeness to the fulfillment of God's promises to all nations. It also involves the sacred historical accounts of fear and hope in the life of Abram and Sarai which depicts ups and downs in their experiences with God's declaration of His second covenant after the flood made to Noah. An everlasting covenant that will affect the whole world even reaches in our time till the end of time.
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Outline of the Study
Sunday: Abraham's Part {The Faith of Abraham} - Gen. 15
Monday: Sarah's Contribution {Abraham's Doubt} - Genesis 16
Tuesday: The Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant - Genesis 17
Wednesday: The Confirmation of the Promise {The Son of the Promise} - Genesis. 18:1-15
Thursday: The Intercession of Abraham {Lot in Promise} - Genesis 18:16-19:29
Friday: Further Study and Meditation
Sunday: Abraham’s Part {The Faith of Abraham} Genesis 15.
“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)
Forensic Righteousness by Faith
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:3-5). Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account. Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness; and the pardoned soul goes on from grace to grace, from light to a greater light. He can say with rejoicing, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5-7). {FW 101.1}
The Promise Righteousness after Trials and Sorrows
We allow the trials and sorrows of earth to so overcome us that we have but little strength to press through the clouds of darkness to the eternal reward. The contemplation of heavenly things will revive our drooping faith, increase our courage and perseverance, and render our trials and sufferings far more easy. It will enable us to bear them with patience and joy. Says Paul: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." When a Christian draws his life from above, and strengthens his soul with the contemplation of things that are unseen, God is honored, because he takes him at his word. He believes the promise, and it is accounted unto him for righteousness. {RH, March 29, 1870 par. 24}
Consider the Following
Abram shared his doubts about the promised seed when he met with God again (Genesis 15:2). God assured him that his son would be his heir. Abram believed Him (Romans 4:20-22).
Then, the covenant was confirmed (Genesis 15:9-18):
— Animals were sacrificed (v. 9-10) => and Christ died for our sins.
— Vultures fly around (v.11) => Israel was enslaved (v. 13).
— A burning torch (v. 17) => God committed to fulfilling His promises.
— The boundaries of the promised land are set (v. 18) => Getting back to Eden.
Monday: Sarah’s contribution {Abraham's Doubt} Genesis 16.
“So Sarai said to Abram, ‘See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go into my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.’ And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.” (Genesis 16:2)
Faith will be Tested
Abraham had accepted without question the promise of a son, but he did not wait for God to fulfill His word in His own time and way. A delay was permitted, to test his faith in the power of God; but he failed to endure the trial. Thinking it impossible that a child should be given her in her old age, Sarah suggested, as a plan by which the divine purpose might be fulfilled, that one of her handmaidens should be taken by Abraham as a secondary wife. Polygamy had become so widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no less a violation of the law of God, and was fatal to the sacredness and peace of the family relation. . . . {CTr 82.2}
Abraham's Misunderstanding of the Promise
When Abraham was nearly one hundred years old, the promise of a son was repeated to him, with the assurance that the future heir should be the child of Sarah. But Abraham did not yet understand the promise. . . . {CTr 82.5}
The birth of Isaac, bringing, after a lifelong waiting, the fulfillment of their dearest hopes, filled the tents of Abraham and Sarah with gladness. But to Hagar this event was the overthrow of her fondly cherished ambitions. Ishmael, now a youth, had been regarded by all in the encampment as the heir of Abraham’s wealth and the inheritor of the blessings promised to his descendants. Now he was suddenly set aside; and in their disappointment, mother and son hated the child of Sarah. . . . {CTr 82.6}
Consider the Following
After waiting for 10 years, Sarai lost all hope of being the mother of the seed. She proposed an alternative: a surrogate mother. Looks like reason won over faith...
Sarai doubted and acted against God’s will, like Eve did. Abram compromised and followed her, like Adam did.
However, God always shows His love, even when we make bad decisions. He promised protection to Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 16:10-12).
Tuesday: The Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 17.
“and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” (Genesis 17:11)
Circumcision a Sign of the Covenant
If man had kept the law of God, as given to Adam after his fall, preserved by Noah, and observed by Abraham, there would have been no necessity for the ordinance of circumcision. And if the descendants of Abraham had kept the covenant, of which circumcision was a sign, they would never have been seduced into idolatry, nor would it have been necessary for them to suffer a life of bondage in Egypt; they would have kept God's law in mind, and there would have been no necessity for it to be proclaimed from Sinai or engraved upon the tables of stone. And had the people practiced the principles of the Ten Commandments, there would have been no need of the additional directions given to Moses. {PP 364.2}
Token of His Covenant Extended to All Generation
The blessings upon the patriarch Abraham are repeated to Isaac in these words: "And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." {ST, April 22, 1886 par. 12}
God gave to Abraham and to his seed the rite of circumcision as a token that he had separated them from all other nations as his peculiar treasure. By this sign, they solemnly agreed to fulfill the terms of the covenant made with Abraham and repeated to Isaac and Jacob. But the descendants of Abraham departed from the worship of the true God, and transgressed his law. They mingled with the nations who had no knowledge or fear of God before their eyes, and gradually imitated their customs and manners, until God's anger was kindled against them, and he permitted them to have their own way and follow the devices of their own corrupt hearts. {ST, April 22, 1886 par. 13}
Consider the Following
Moses, Jeremiah, and Paul understood this sign [circumcision] as something more than a physical act (Deuteronomy 10:26; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:28-29).
The covenant goes beyond the physical descendants of Abraham. It’s about the work of the Seed, the Messiah. The sacrifice of Jesus brings eternal life to all those who accept it by faith.
Names were changed to reflect this promise:
— Abram [“exalted father”] => Abraham [“father of many nations”].
— Sarai [“my princess”] => Sarah [“the princess” for everyone].
Pledge of God with Man
As a pledge of this covenant of God with men, a smoking furnace and a burning lamp, symbols of the divine presence, passed between the severed victims, totally consuming them. And again a voice was heard by Abraham, confirming the gift of the land of Canaan to his descendants, "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." {PP 137.2}
When Abraham had been nearly twenty-five years in Canaan, the Lord appeared unto him, and said, "I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect." In awe, the patriarch fell upon his face, and the message continued: "Behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations." In token of the fulfillment of this covenant, his name, heretofore called Abram, was changed to Abraham, which signifies, "father of a great multitude." Sarai's name became Sarah--"princess;" for, said the divine Voice, "she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her." {PP 137.3}
Wednesday: The Confirmation of the Promise. Genesis 18:1-15.
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:14)
Everlasting Covenant Established
Again the promise is more definitely repeated to Abraham: "Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed, and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him."
Angels are sent the second time to Abraham on their way to destroy Sodom, and they repeat the promise more distinctly that Sarah shall have a son. {1SP 96.2}
God's Providence Given
Abraham believed that Isaac was the son of promise. He also believed that God meant just what he said when he bade him to go offer him as a burnt-offering. He staggered not at the promise of God; but believed that God, who had in his providence given Sarah a son in her old age, and who had required him to take that son's life, could also give life again, and bring up Isaac from the dead. {1SP 99.3}
Abraham Exhibits His Faith - God Renew His Promise
Abraham has now fully and nobly borne the test, and by his faithfulness redeemed his lack of perfect trust in God, which lack led him to take Hagar as his wife. After the exhibition of Abraham's faith and confidence, God renews his promise to him. "And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of Heaven the second time, and said, By myself I have sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." {1SP 101.2}
Consider the Following
Abraham was perplexed. Sarah was 90 years old; how could she bear a child? Abraham laughed (Genesis 17:17).
God decided to speak about this with them. He came before Abraham in human form, along with two angels (Genesis 18:1-2).
Abraham was hospitable, so he was eager to take care of the travelers (Hebrews 13:2).
God Himself talked about the promise, and Sarah heard Him. Sarah also laughed (Genesis 18:12).
God’s promise was sure, and Sarah believed (Hebrews 11:11). Eventually, God also laughed with the son of faith (Isaac means “he will laugh”).
Thursday: The Intercession of Abraham. Genesis 18:16-19:29.
“Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
Abraham Humbled Himself to Seek Mercy for Sodom
We are told that Abraham drew near and said: “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” While Abraham had a true sense of humility that every child of God should possess, yet he had an intense interest in the souls of sinners. He is represented as drawing near. He steps close to those heavenly messengers and pleads with them as a child would plead with its parents. He remembers that Lot has made his home in Sodom and that Lot has connections all through Sodom by marriage. Therefore Abraham commences at fifty, and the Lord tells him that He will spare it for fifty; then he goes down to ten, and the Lord tells him that He will spare it for ten’s sake. He does not make any further appeal, but he does hope that there will be found ten righteous [persons] in Sodom. {CTr 75.2}
Abraham Stands as Representative of God
Here Abraham stands as one who is a representative for God, and his history is brought down along the line to our time. Abraham’s interest and anxiety for Sodom is a lesson to us that we should have an intense interest for those around us. Although we should hate the sin, we should love the souls of those for whom Christ died. And then we should feel most grateful to God that we have One who is pleading in the heavens above in our behalf. {CTr 75.4}
Abraham Set an Example of Intercession - Points to Christ
Jesus knows the worth of every soul because it is He who paid the price for everyone. When He was in His agony at the crucifixion, He prayed there for His enemies and He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And here, as we see in the case of Abraham, He pleads for the guilty as one person pleads for another. We should [offer] that [same] earnest prayer for those who are in darkness.—Manuscript 19, 1886. {CTr 75.5}
Christ knows the sinner's trials; He knows his temptations. He took upon Himself our nature; He was tempted in all points like as we are. He has wept, He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. As a man He lived upon earth. As a man He ascended to heaven. As a man He is the substitute of humanity. As a man He liveth to make intercession for us. As a man He will come again with kingly power and glory to receive those who love Him, and for whom He is now preparing a place. We should rejoice and give thanks that God "hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He hath ordained." {BEcho, November 1, 1892 par. 6}
Consider the Following
The angels left for Sodom. God stayed speaking with Abraham (Genesis 18:22). Abraham interceded for Sodom. He negotiated the minimum number of righteous people in Sodom for God to forgive the city (Genesis 18:23-32).
Only 4 people were saved (and only 3 survived). Not even five righteous people were found.
The destruction of Sodom is a symbol of the eventual destruction of the wicked (Jude 7).
Friday: Further Study and Meditation
The blessings of redeeming love our Savior compared to a precious pearl. He illustrated His lesson by the parable of the merchantman seeking goodly pearls "who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead. He is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character. Every page of the Holy Scriptures shines with His light. The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are "hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:3. He is "made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:30. All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss. {COL 115.1}
Questions to Ponder
1. Why did God renew His covenant, was the first one made to Noah inferior? What’s the scope of this renewed covenant?
2. In the word of the prophet Nathan (2 Sam. 7:12), setting up the “seed” in the future, does this word mean the same as Abraham?
3. Did God through Abraham’s sacrificial offering of His own son point to Christ as the only begotten son of the Father as a sacrifice?
4. When our faith is tested, why is it so easy to be swayed or lack of faith like Abram?
5. Why is circumcision made spiritual and prophetic? What does it portray?
6. How can we preserve our faith in times where the darts of Satan assailed our trust in God? Struggles come and disturb our peace with God, How do we combat doubt when it attacks us?
7. Based upon the passage above (COL 115.1), what kind of Christians are we, when new challenges come, strange circumstances and events that disturb our trust to others be?
From the Pen of Inspiration
“Faith is trusting in God,—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership, and accepts its blessings.” E. G. W. (Gospel Workers, p. 259)
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