Many a time, people promise others and even support it with an oath, but not all of those promises come true. However, if the promise is supported by a proper or written legal oath, then, it is bound to be established. In this thesis, the promises God made to Abraham and its transferability to believers, is discussed.
God´s Covenant to Abraham. That;
- God would give Abraham offspring as numerous as the stars or the sands of the sea (Gen 22:17)
- God would provide those offspring with a land of their own, a good land flowing with milk and honey (Jer 11:5, Jer 32:22)
- God would bless all the nations of the earth through this offspring (Gen 12:1-3).
After Abraham had been obedient to God by offering his lone son to God, God added an oath to His promises to him so as to secure it in Abraham’s mind and in the minds of his heirs (Gen 22:15-18)
Of thy Seed (Romans 9:7, Gal 3:16-17, Heb 11:8)
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Gal 3:16:18).
Abraham was promised a seed but not seeds. As indicated by Paul, the seed promised pointed to Jesus Christ. The promises cannot change, regardless of the circumstances. The promise is forever established. This seed is neither replaceable nor replicable. It must be understood that neither the Law, the Prophets nor any other human (Acts 4:12) replaces the promise of the seed of Abraham. Jesus is made a surety of a better covenant (Heb 7:21-22) and that God´s oath makes Jesus eternal high priest (Heb 7:28)
God´s Oath to the Seed of Abraham
In Heb 7:17-22 cultural setting of an oath is perused. The basis of an oath’s validity was the unchangeableness of the things by which one swore. If one were to swear by some unchangeable object, then it would be blaspheming that object, if the oath were not carried through.
Two sureties why God swore
God promises to bless Abraham under an oath, and
God promised to fulfill the promises.
An Oath is intended to settle all disputes
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all
Strife (Heb 6:16).
God´s purpose for swearing an oath (6:18)
The promises of God to His children are to be trusted and believed in because:
- By two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie (Num 23: 19, Tit 1:2, Heb 6:18). God cannot tell lie and all his promises are yea and Amen (2Co 1:20).
- He swore that we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us (Heb 6:18), which hope we have as an anchor (ankura) of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil (Heb 6:19).
In Christ, the promises of God to Abraham and his heir is fulfilled. Accept Christ Jesus today and the full package of God´s blessings would be yours. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things would be added unto you (Matt 6:33).
Prayer: May the Almighty God and Father increase our faith and help us to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, as the only seed given for the redemption of the world. So be it!