Genesis 15:18

covenant

The Abrahamic Covenant as formed (Genesis 12:1) and confirmed; (Genesis 13:14); (Genesis 15:1); (Genesis 17:1) is in seven distinct parts:

(1) "I will make of thee a great nation." Fulfilled in a threefold way:

(a) In a natural posterity -- "as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16); (John 8:37); namely, the Hebrew people.

(b) In a spiritual posterity -- "look now toward heaven . . . so shall thy seed be" (John 8:39); (Romans 4:16); (Romans 9:7); (Galatians 3:6); (Galatians 3:7); (Galatians 3:29) namely, all men of faith, whether Jew or Gentile.

(c) fulfilled also through Ishmael (Genesis 17:18).

(2) "I will bless thee." Fulfilled in two ways:

(a) temporally (Genesis 13:14); (Genesis 13:15); (Genesis 13:17); (Genesis 15:18); (Genesis 24:34)

(b) spiritually; (Genesis 15:6); (John 8:56).

(3) "And make thy name great." Abraham's is one of the universal names.

(4) "And thou shalt be a blessing" (Galatians 3:13); (Galatians 3:14).

(5) "I will bless them that bless thee." In fulfilment closely related to the next clause.

(6) "And curse him that curseth thee." Wonderfully fulfilled in the history of the dispersion. It has invariably fared ill with the people who have persecuted the Jew -- well with those who have protected him. The future will still more remarkably prove this principle (Deuteronomy 30:7); (Isaiah 14:1); (Joel 3:1); (Micah 5:7); (Haggai 2:22); (Zechariah 14:1); (Matthew 25:40); (Matthew 25:45).

(7) "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." This is the great evangelic promise fulfilled in Abraham's Seed, Christ (Galatians 3:16); (John 8:56).

It brings into greater definiteness the promise of the Adamic Covenant concerning the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).

NOTE. -- The gift of the land is modified by prophecies of three dispossessions and restorations (Genesis 15:13); (Genesis 15:14); (Genesis 15:16); (Jeremiah 25:11); (Jeremiah 25:12); (Deuteronomy 28:62); (Deuteronomy 30:1). Two dispossessions and restorations have been accomplished. Israel is now in the third dispersion, from which she will be restored at the return of the Lord as King under the Davidic Covenant; (Deuteronomy 30:3); (Jeremiah 23:5); (Ezekiel 37:21); (Luke 1:30); (Acts 15:14).

See, for the other seven covenants:

ADAMIC

( See Scofield) - (Genesis 3:14)

NOAHIC

( See Scofield) - (Genesis 9:1)

ABRAHAMIC

( See Scofield) - (Genesis 15:18)

MOSAIC

( See Scofield) - (Exodus 19:25)

PALESTINIAN

( See Scofield) - (Deuteronomy 30:3)

DAVIDIC

( See Scofield) - (2 Samuel 7:16)

NEW

( See Scofield) - (Hebrews 8:8)