The 7 Promises to Abraham

Read Genesis 12

Post floods the world moved on and we come to Abraham, originally named Abram by his father Terah. Joshua 24: 2 tells us that Terah worshipped other God's as did their community. So Abraham actually grew up in an idolatrous family and nation. While the Bible doesn't give a detailed "conversion" story in the modern sense, it clearly presents that Abraham's transformation into a follower of the one true God was a result of God's direct call and revelation to him.

God chose Abraham.

It is said of Abraham that the symbol of his life was a tent and the secret of his life was an altar. Rarely do we read of Abraham living in a city and the altar speaks of his fellowship with God. He built an altar on every milestone of His fellowship, four in all.

Why did God choose Abraham? Well because it was His sovereign choice and because He knew Abraham's character, his faithfulness, obedience and trust. God always looks beyond the obvious.

Thus God chose Abraham as a central figure in His redemptive plan, recognizing and rewarding his faith and obedience, and intending to establish a chosen people through whom He would ultimately bless all humanity. But to do that Abraham needed to have clarity as well, thus a covenant was formed, with 7 promises laying the groundwork for God's redemptive plan for humanity through Abraham's lineage. These promises covered various aspects of Abraham's life and his future descendants. 

These promises were also preceded by a command: get out of your country and family.

God often needs us to get out of our comfort zone and move out to establish Him in other places. That has been the theme from day one: go out, populate and manage the earth and establish a community of God's people. That command still exists today. Establish a community of God's people.

All the promises God made to Abraham revolve around this end objective

The question is, are these seven promises made to Abraham still valid for us today?

This is a fundamental question in Christian theology, and the answer is a resounding yes, but with a crucial understanding of how they are fulfilled and applied.

Here's a breakdown of how the seven promises made to Abraham are understood to be valid for believers today, particularly in Christianity:

1. Fulfillment in Jesus Christ:

The New Testament, especially the Apostle Paul's writings, emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the ultimate "seed" of Abraham (Galatians 3:16). He is the one through whom all the promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

2. "I will make you a great nation" and "I will make your name great": While Abraham's physical descendants formed the nation of Israel, the "great nation" and the "great name" are ultimately fulfilled in the spiritual family of God. Through Christ, believers from every nation become part of a new spiritual "nation" and share in the "great name" of Christ.

3. "I will bless you" and "You shall be a blessing": These are spiritually fulfilled in Christ. Believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). As followers of Christ, we are also called to be a blessing to the world, demonstrating God's love and truth.

4. "I will bless those who bless you" and "I will curse him who curses you": These promises, while having historical applications to Israel, are now understood in a spiritual sense. Those who bless God's people (the spiritual "seed" of Abraham) are blessed, and those who oppose God's purposes and people face divine judgment.

5."In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed": This is the most direct and clear promise that applies to everyone. It is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who came from Abraham's lineage to bring salvation and blessing to all people, regardless of their ethnicity or background, who believe in Him.

In summary, yes, God's seven promises to Abraham are still valid for us today, but they are understood through the lens of their fulfillment in Jesus Christ and through faith. Believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, are considered the spiritual descendants of Abraham and therefore heirs to the spiritual blessings of the covenant, especially the promise of salvation and being a blessing to the world. The promise of the land of Israel, however, retains a unique and specific application to the Jewish people.