Children of Abraham, children of promise

<p>While most people studying the Bible recognize that God made covenants with Abraham, they misunderstand or overlook how Abraham’s relationship with God came about. To begin with, God simply made seven promises to Abraham before any covenants were enacted.</p><p>Genesis 12:1-4 Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;</p><ol><li>And I will make you a great nation,</li><li>And I will bless you,</li><li>And make your name great;</li><li>And so you shall be a blessing;</li><li>And I will bless those who bless you,</li><li>And the one who curses you I will curse.</li><li>And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."</li></ol><p>So Abram went forth as Yahweh had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.</p><p>At this point, no covenant was in place; God simply <i>promised</i> that all of these things would come about. Here the Bible tells us that <i>Abraham simply believed in these promises of the one true God</i>. This is the exhibition of faith that Abraham is primarily remembered for. Understanding this principle is key to how the apostle Paul would use this simple faithfulness of Abraham later on in his letters to illustrate faith in Messiah.</p><p>Galatians 3:16, 29 Now <strong>the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed</strong>. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Messiah ... for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. And <strong>if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.</strong></p><p>The physical covenants and genealogies were for physical blessings for Abraham's fleshly descendants through Jacob. They were necessary and proper until the fulfillment of the promises and covenants in Messiah. From Yeshua’s time on, genealogies would no longer be necessary, since they had served their purpose of identifying Abraham's ul