The Covenant in the Time of Abraham
Covenant Theology 101 (#7)
Covenant Breakers and the Covenant Keeper.
In adoption, the most beautiful moment isn’t signing the papers but hearing the words: “You are mine.” Parents don’t choose a child because of merit or potential—they choose out of love. From that moment, the child belongs because of love.
That’s the kind of love God showed to Abraham. Out of the world, God chose one man—not because he was worthy, but because of love. God’s love changed the world.
He’s so monumental redemption history that the Lord calls himself “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (e.g., Ex. 2:24). Paul calls him “the father of all those who believe” (Rom. 4:11). Our children sing, “Father Abraham, had many sons…”
The one “covenant [of grace] was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the Gospel”(Westminster Confession, 7.5). Each administration is like a software update on one phone (Rhodes, Making Covenants Simple). We pick up Covenant Theology 101 in the story of God’s covenant of grace in the time of Abraham.
A Sovereign Grace (Gen. 12)
Why Abraham? Out of Shem’s twenty-six listed descendants (Gen. 10), why choose this man from Ur? Why not his brothers?
The answer isn’t found in Abraham, but God: “that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls” (Rom. 9:11); God has “mercy on whom [he will]…and…compassion on whom [he will]…it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Rom. 9:15, 16). Abraham’s story begins not with human seeking, but divine calling: “Go from your country…to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1).
Imagine choosing one puppy out of ten—all eager for attention. Why do you choose that one? Probably because it was the cutest! With God, he chooses people because he loves them—not because of merit, but to display mercy. Abraham is a pure picture of “love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 John 4:10).
A Gracious Grace (Gen. 15)
“Gracious grace” is redundant, but captures what grace is—undeserved. Our relationships too often are works-based: we make children earn our love or even give love to our spouse because of what we’re trying to get. But God is the fullness of true grace. Abram illustrates that.
What Genesis doesn’t say is that God choose Abram from a family of idolaters (Josh. 24:2). Yet, after being chosen (Gen. 12), he had his wife lie to save his life out of fear. Yet God didn’t revoke his promise; he formalized a covenant with him (Gen. 15). The strange ritual of cutting animals in half, laying them out, and walking through them was an ancient treaty ceremony. Both parties walked between saying, “If I break the treaty, may I be cut in half!” But in Genesis 15, only God passed through as “a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch” (v. 17): “If this covenant fails, may I be the one torn apart.” That’s grace. God—not Abraham—bound himself to the terms of faithfulness.
Yet Abram faltered—disregarding the promise of a son through Sarai and taking matters into his own hands with Hagar(Gen. 16). Nevertheless, the Lord reiterated his covenant with the sign of circumcision (Gen. 17). He faltered again—laughing at God’s promise (17:17). Then he faltered again—lying in fear (Gen. 20).
Is God gracious or what? Don’t ever forget! He patiently bears with Abraham’s doubts and disbelief—and ours! His promises don’t rest on our perfection, but on his faithfulness! He proves that grace really is gracious.
A Signified Grace (Gen. 17)
The covenant was signified by circumcision:
…I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you…I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land…for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God (Gen. 17:7, 8).
Circumcision marked Abraham’s family as the people of God’s promise. Yet, not all who bore the sign shared saving faith. Both Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob or Esau received the sign, yet they didn’t all believe.
The same is true today. The visible church includes wheat and tares, sheep and goats. Paul says the covenant is like an olive tree and some natural branches were broken off that wild branches could be grafted in (Rom. 11). Some families only have one believing parent—but their children are regarded as holy (1 Cor. 7:14) and thus recipients of the sign of baptism.
That’s the heart of every covenant relationship God makes with humanity: I will be your God, you will be my people. What grace!
Covenant Breakers and the Covenant Keeper
Think of that adopted child—prone to tantrums and tears. The parent’s love remains as it did with Abraham. God chose and sustained him, then sealed his promise with circumcision.
Abraham broke covenant again and again, but God never let go. That faithfulness runs like a golden thread through Scripture—from the stars of Abraham’s sky to the Son born under them in Bethlehem.
Just as God alone walked through the pieces, so God the Son walked through death for us. On the cross, the curse fell on him. His torn body fulfilled the oath: “If I break this covenant, may I be cut in half.” It was kept by the Covenant Keeper
Abraham’s story tells us that grace begins, continues, and ends with God. He chooses, calls, bears with weakness, and seals his promise of grace through baptism and communion. When you doubt, fear, and waver in faith, remember the God of Abraham, who still says to every sinner adopted into his family: “You are mine.”