Everlasting Covenant – Genesis 17:1-8

An unconditional covenant does not mean that there are not conditions for being in relationship with God.  Covenant stipulations that must be fulfilled by those in covenant with God determine whether those in covenant will experience the covenant blessings promised by God.  Failure to keep covenant, however, will not prevent God from ultimately fulfilling the covenant by making His people come into compliance with the covenant stipulations (see Deuteronomy 30:1-6, where Moses predicts that Israel will become non-compliant and suffer exile, but that Yahweh will circumcise their hearts to love Yahweh their God and return to Him).

[1] When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, [2] that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” [3] Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, [4] “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. [5] No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. [6] I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. [7] And 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. [8] And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:1–8, ESV)

Thirteen years have passed.  Ishmael is thirteen, but there is still no heir through Abram and Sarai.  There is no clear indication of why God has not given such an heir, nor why He waits until now to restate His covenant with Abram.  Yahweh appears to Abram, suggesting again that He appears as a human.  And He gives Himself a new designation, El Shaddai, God the Powerful One, and whereas He has only shown Himself responsible for fulfilling His promise in covenant with Abram, He now makes a requirement of Abram…”walk before me and be blameless.”  This is a condition for making covenant with Abram (“that I may make my covenant  between me and you”).  Abram falls on his face before this human-looking Yahweh.

Yahweh adds some details to this covenant that are new to Abram.  He will be the father of many nations (we know one nation will happen through Ishmael and certainly another through Abram’s and Sarai’s own offspring).  Yahweh also adds that kings will come through Abram.  And finally He calls it “an everlasting covenant,” meaning it is permanent.  He reiterates that the land of Canaan will become the possession of Abram’s offspring.  What Abram passes through now as a sojourner will be an “everlasting” of his children.  God changes Abram’s name (Abram means exalted father) to Abraham, father of a multitude, as a signifier of these new meanings.

Yahweh also promises that He will be Abraham’s offspring’s God.  This is one part of what will later be stated as a tri-partite formula (My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people, Ezekiel 37:27).  God wants to be our God (He wants to belong to us), for us to be His people (we belong to Him), and to dwell among us (have close fellowship and holy presence with us).  For Christians, this is realized, in part, by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in His people, the Church.  He causes His children to walk in His ways, thus making them compliant with covenant stipulations (for example, “Without holiness no one will see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14).