We have been traveling with Abraham in the land of Canaan. Chapter 17 of Genesis gives us his age at this point, 99 years old. He was 75 when he left Ur of the Chaldeans. Chapter 16 tells us that he was 86 when Hagar bore Ishmael to him. Long years of traveling as a sojourner in a foreign land. His travels have consisted of peaks of faith as we see when he left his homeland in obedience to God’s calling, but we also see valleys of fears and sin when he went down to Egypt and lied about Sarah’s identity. Chapter 16 documented another moment of failed faith when he married Hagar in the hopes of getting his sought-after son.
His journey has also been filled with encounters with God. Every encounter, would reinforce the original promises of Genesis 12:2-3:
“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
In chapter 15 these promises culminated in two things. One, Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God. Two, a covenant ceremony to seal what God had promised based on Abraham’s response of faith. Here, the covenant was unilateral (unconditional). Only God passed between the animals. This makes sense because righteousness is earned by grace alone through faith alone.
However, in chapter 17 God says the following to Abraham:
“Walk before me and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you.” Gen. 17:1-2
Then in vs. 9 He says to him, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant.”
Here it sounds that the covenant is bilateral (conditional). I leave you with this question. Is God’s covenant with Abraham conditional or unconditional. Consequently, did Abraham become righteous by faith alone or by works?
Please read the entire section from 17:1-18:15. May our Lord speak to us by His Holy Spirit and may Christ and Him crucified be proclaimed.