Abraham is mentioned seventy-four times in the New Testament. The promises made to him are also frequently mentioned, and it is therefore important that both Abraham and the promises be known.
God promised in Gen.12:2 that Abram would be blessed and his name made great. He was also promised that a great nation would come from him. In Gen.17: 4 this promise was taken further,as God said Abram would be the father of many nations, both Jews and Gentiles. Kings were also promised to come from him (v.6). At this time God changed his name from Abram (meaning “exalted father”) to Abraham (meaning “father of a multitude”). This was because he would be multiplied exceedingly to become the father of many nations (Gen.17:2). In Genesis 13:16 we are told that his descendants would be as the dust of the earth.
This promise is again brought out in Gen.22:17, where God says his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore. Assurance was given of this promise in v.16 when God swore by Himself. This is again mentioned in Heb.6:13, highlighting the truth that God could swear by none greater than Himself.
In Genesis 12:2,3 Abram was also promised that he would be a blessing to all nations of the earth. He is a blessing because others can inherit the promises with him (Gal.3:29) and because of his seed (Gal.3:16). This seed is Jesus, as he is the descendant who in Gen.22:17 possesses the gate of his enemies (including sin and death – 1 Cor.15:26). Jesus brings the blessing because forgiveness of sins can be obtained through him. In Gal.3:13,14 we are told that the Gentiles are also blessed through the seed. This is the fulfillment of the promise of blessing in Gen.12:2,3 which is repeated in ch.22:17,18 – that all nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed.
In Genesis 13:14 Abram was promised a land. He was in Canaan and was promised the land as far as he could see, in all directions. The land of Canaan was again promised in Gen.17:8 to him and to his descendants for an everlasting possession. The land promised is defined in ch.15:18. The shaded region of the map shows this land. Although not marked, included in the shaded area are the lands of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Perizzites and Girgashites.
In Genesis 17:7 God promised to be Abraham’s and his descendants’ God for ever. His descendants are defined in Rom.9:6-9 not as actual children of Abraham (as not all these are his spiritual descendants), but as men of faith (Gal.3:6-9). He says these are the men who will be blessed with Abraham. In Gal.3:26-29 we are told that the descendants are the saints who have been baptized into Christ.
In Romans 4:16 we are told that those who share the faith of Abraham are the ones who will be counted righteous; Abraham had great faith in God. In Genesis he is promised many descendants, and even though childless, he is said to have believed the Lord. Abraham believed in Jesus, since we are told in John 8: 56:
“Abraham rejoiced to see my (Jesus’) day”.
He knew Jesus would be the promised seed. He also believed in the resurrection, because he knew he would die, and yet he believed in everlasting life as he was promised the land for an everlasting possession. In Rom.4:22 it says that because of this faith, Abraham was counted righteous; and in v.22,24 we are told how the same faith can make us righteous and heirs with Abraham to the promises which Peter describes as “exceeding great and precious” (2 Pet.1:4).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One