The Covenant With Abraham

Over two thousand years after man's expulsion from Paradise, Jehovah told his faithful servant Abraham: "I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens . . .and by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice." (Genesis 22:17, 18) This was more than a promise; Jehovah framed it in the form of a legal covenant and backed it by his unbreakable oath. (Genesis 17:1, 2; Hebrews 6:13-15) How remarkable that the Sovereign Lord actually contracted to bless mankind!

The Abrahamic covenant revealed that the promised Seed would come as a human, for he would be a descendant of Abraham. But who would he be? In time, Jehovah revealed that of Abraham's sons, Isaac would be a forebear of the Seed. Of Isaac's two sons, Jacob was selected. (Genesis 21:12; 28:13, 14) Later, Jacob uttered these profound words over one of his 12 sons: "The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh ["He To Whom It Belongs"] comes; and to him the obedience of the peoples will belong." (Genesis 49:10) Now it was known that the Seed would be a king, one who descended from Judah!

Next time: The Covenant With Israel

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002