The Promises And Covenant

Ephraim Frank

Israel

July 4, 2008

Shalom Fellow Israelite

Chapter XIV

After Abram was blessed by the king and priest of the Most High, YHVH came to him in a vision saying: “Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1).  YHVH was now establishing for His firstborn the principal foundation for occupying that office, “Fear not!” In other words, "Do not be governed by fear, for I am your protection and the fulfillment of everything that I have spoken to you".  YHVH Elohim will watch over all of His words of promise and will be faithful to perform them.  It is not going to be about religion or politics, but about a relationship with the Word of the great I AM That I AM. 

“But Abram said, 'YHVH Elohim, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!'" (Genesis 15:2). 

After all the tests, trials, and now the blessing that was conferred upon him by Melchizedec, Abram, rather than being hopeful, is still concerned about not having an heir. Hence it seems to him that the only alternative for an heir is Eliezer of Damascus, who must have been a faithful servant in his household.  YHVH, however, was very quick to respond to this proposal with the non-equivocal words:  "'This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.' Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your seed be'" (Genesis 15:4-5).

The promised seed would come out of Abram’s own loins.  But unlike the last time, when YHVH promised him descendants “as the dust of the earth”, this time the imagery of stars was added. This was in order to point out not only numerousness, but also to establish the fact that the promised seed would be like the stars; for signs, seasons and for light, and would play a governing role within the realm of spiritual darkness. 

Abram had been brought to the end of any hope that his wife Sarai would ever bear a child.   He now had a single recourse only, and that was to believe that YHVH would be faithful to keep His word of promise.  Here was a demonstration of faith working in the life of one man whom YHVH had called from the womb as a firstborn, and now chose to use to father a new genus in humanity; a people who would be the carriers of the “the same faith of their father Abraham”.

Centuries later, an apostle of the Messiah understood this covenant mystery, namely that YHVH had multiplied and hid the promised seed in many nations: “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Law [Jews], but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16).  Please note that no mention is made here of “spiritual father”.  It simply states that if one has the "the faith" to be able to believe YHVH Elohim’s Gospel, one is of the promised seed of Abraham, and Abraham is the father of such a person.  Thus, the "seed of Abraham" is a witness of, and to the promise and faithfulness of a covenant keeping Elohim. 

In his letter to the Galatians Paul repeats this idea: “And if you are Messiah's [having this anointing of His Spirit], then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).  We are in Messiah and belong to Him because of “the faith” that we have received from our forefather.   This faith is a birthmark that identifies us as the promised seed, and as heirs to the promises that YHVH made to Abram and his progeny (sperm/life).

YHVH responded to the Abram's question (quoted above from Genesis 15:2), by taking him outside and having him count the stars.  At that point Abram believed YHVH, and YHVH acknowledged his faith and accounted it to him for righteousness.  Let us take a close look at what YHVH says to Abram about the land, along with the appended reminder as to who had brought him out of the land of Ur.  The record states that Abram’s father, Terah, took his family and left Ur to go to Haran. Nevertheless, the Sovereign One wanted Abram to realize that He was the One who was directing his circumstances.  

“Then He said to him, 'I am YHVH, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.'  And he said, 'YHVH Elohim, how shall I know that I will inherit it?'" (Genesis 15:7-8).

Abram's question here, in response to YHVH's words, elicits a very interesting counter-response from the Almighty.  Keep in mind that YHVH's answer will be prophetic and will seal the promises. "So He said to him, 'bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon'" (Genesis 15:9).

After a very tiring day of accomplishing what YHVH had asked of him, and chasing the vultures off the sacrifices, evening descended upon this special firstborn and he fell into a deep sleep.  It was not a pleasant sleep, as this old prophet was going to experience the frightening revelation that his life, within a multitude of progeny, would be in slavery and bondage to another nation. “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him" (Genesis 15:12).  YHVH’s prophetic words were then imparted to him: "Know certainly that your descendants/seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions" (Genesis 15:13-14), but not before the iniquity of the Amorites is complete (ref v16).

 Suddenly there appeared between the sacrifices a pillar of cloud and fire.  It is not clear whether Abram was awake or asleep during this time, but the Mighty Redeemer and Covenant Maker is seen Himself passing between the sacrifices as a sign of ratifying the covenant (ref. Jeremiah 34:18). At the same time He also revealed to Abram the destiny of the promised seed’s deliverance from four hundred years of bondage in Egypt. "And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces” (Genesis 15: 17).

After YHVH passed between the divided sacrifices, He reiterated the previous promise and gave Abram a detailed description of the land that was to come into his descendants’ possession: “'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates -- the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,  the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,  the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites'"  (Genesis 15:18-21). Notice that YHVH is saying that He has already given the land.  How can He say this? Having given it to a father, He has already given it also to His descendants because the life of the father is in his progeny.

"Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age” (Genesis 15:15).  Even though Abram is quite old at this time, YHVH assures him that he will have more years ahead of him. However, Abram still had a problem; he now had a land, but still did not have an offspring who could inherit it.

Shabbat Shalom

Ephraim