Summary:

If we begin to understand our covenant, no task or challenge will be impossible for us. Abraham ignored his natural weaknesses and, instead,
became fully persuaded that what God promised, He was also able to
perform. Likewise, we must not allow the appearance of situations and
circumstances to discourage us. Our hope must come from God’s Word.



  1. Although there was no hope in the natural, Abraham was fully persuaded by God’s Word concerning the promise God had made to him (Romans 4:18-21).
    1. God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations.
      1. At the time, Abraham and Sarah were unable to conceive because they were beyond childbearing years.
      2. God’s promises to us are often bigger than we can comprehend.
      3. If we are strangers to the Abrahamic covenant, we have no hope and are without God in this world (Ephesians 2:12).
    2. God first introduced Himself to Abraham saying, “I am your exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1-18).
      1. Abraham believed God, and his faith was credited to him as righteousness.
  2. While they waited, Abram and Sarai lost hope and began making assumptions about how to bring God’s covenant promise to pass (Genesis 16:1-16).
    1. Sarai gave her maid, Hagar, to her husband in order to conceive a child.
      1. Hagar became pregnant with Abraham’s first son, Ishmael.
      2. Ishmael was not the child of the promise.
    2. For 13 years, Abram heard nothing from God (Genesis 17:1-27, AMP).
      1. However, God confirmed His covenant with Abram and changed his name to “Abraham.”
      2. He also changed Sarai’s name to “Sarah” and established that every male should be circumcised.
      3. Circumcision was a sign of the blood covenant.
  3. God made the covenant with Abraham and his seed, who is Jesus (Galatians 3:16, 17).
    1. Jesus sacrificed His life so that Gentiles (those who are not Jewish) could become a part of the covenant.

Scripture References:

  • Romans 4:18-21
  • Ephesians 2:11, 12
  • Genesis 15:1-18
  • Genesis 16:1-16
  • Genesis 17:1-27, AMP
  • Galatians 3:16, 1