Thread of the Covenants 3

Abrahamic Covenant

The Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional covenant. The actual covenant is found in Genesis 12:1-3. The Ceremony recorded in Genesis 15 indicates the unconditional nature of the covenant.

Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18)

Melchizedek is a mysterious figure who is described as both the King of Salem

and a priest of "God Most High." He brings to conquering Abram a royal

feast of bread and wine. The king of Sodom, apparently, brought nothing worth mentioning to the meeting.

Theophany

Many Bible scholars speculate that Melchizedek may be what is referred to as a theophany: the Lord taking human form for a specific purpose before His arrival on earth as Jesus.

What does Genesis 15:17 mean

After God completes His prophecy about Abram's descendants, He returns to the covenant ritual that began with Abram dividing and arranging the halves of the animals God had instructed him to bring (Genesis 15:9).

In the dark, two items move between the halves of the animals. One is a

smoking fire pot, something that served as an oven in Abram's day. The

other is a flaming torch.

In the narrative itself, we're not told what these two items represent. However, fire is often associated with God's judgement and His holiness.

Circumcision

All males in Abraham's line were to be circumcised and thus carry with

them a lifelong mark in their flesh that they were part of God's physical blessing in the world.

Why Circumcision?!

The biblical explanation for this commandment states quite clearly that the circumcision acts as an outward physical sign of the eternal covenant between

God and the Jewish people. (Col 2: 11-12)

Sarah

Sarah is literally "beyond" a woman's normal ability to Conceive describes herself as worn out and her husband is old.