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Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page In the last article we'd discovered, that 13 years after Hagar had given birth to Abram's one and only heir at the time. God finally reaches out to Abram. Know that before this time, Abram had not heard from the Lord, during that 13 year period.
And so now we find, that God reaches out to his faithful servant: "I am God Almighty walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. "As for Me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. "No longer will you be called Abram, your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, were you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." -- (Genesis 17:1-8) Now in the last article, I'd pointed out that this covenant at the time, was known as the Abrahamic Covenant. But I want to use this page, to point out briefly, how God continued to modify this covenant as time went on. So again, I want you to keep in mind, that this covenant -- which is known at this time as "The Abrahamic Covenant"... would continue to be modified, and expanded by God, as Israel continued to develop throughout time. Know that this "modification" by God, was done in part, because of the continued sinful practices of Abraham's descendants. For one would find, as they follow the history of mankind, that the descendants of Abraham -- had constantly sinned against God. And because of Israel's unchanging worldly ways, and disobedience, God would eventually revise His original covenant with Abram -- through King David. Understand, that in this revised covenant, God reassures David that a descendant of his -- will still rule an everlasting kingdom. Also know, that this "divine promise" alone, is what keeps God's original covenant with Abram still in tact to this very day -- even though it had been revised through King David. This is some of what the Lord had spoken to David, through Nathan, His prophet when He'd first revised the Abrahamic Covenant: "When your [David] days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his Father, and he shall be my son. "When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'" -- 2 Samuel 7:12-16 Now even though Abraham's descendants had continued to break the laws, that God had put before them. God would eventually allow the Babylonians to conquer them, and this act of war, had brought the Israel nation back into captivity. And through the prophet Jeremiah, we find God reassuring His people of the covenant, that He had made through their forefathers -- but this time around, the covenant would be revised again. And this would be done in such a way, that the covenant would now, make people accountable for their own individuals sins -- instead of making the people, or nation, suffer as a whole. Know that this particular covenant, includes, and mentions -- the privilege of having a personal relationship with God. For the covenant also mentions, the gift of forgiveness, that God would bestow on all his believers. But more importantly, this particular covenant, also points to the great tribulation, and the True Messiah -- Jesus (Yeshua) Christ. Here's some of it: "In those days and at that time I will make a Righteous Branch [Jesus Christ] sprout from Davids line; He will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness." -- (Jeremiah 33:15-16)
Taking a look at the "New (Blood) Covenant"... "When the hour had come, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.' Then Jesus took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, 'Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.'" -- (Luke 22:14-20) Understand that this passage is dealing with the "Last Supper" just before Jesus was about to be tormented, and crucified, for the sins of the world. It's also at this point, that Jesus had revised the New Covenant, that God had given to Jeremiah. For we find, that since Abraham's descendants had rejected Jesus, as their True Messiah -- the New (Blood) Covenant would come about, and will now include all believers, who'd decided to accept Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as their personal Savior -- and the One True Way to heaven, the right to an everlasting life.
Understand that Abraham's descendants will still have everything that Jeremiah had pointed out to them in the New Covenant, when it comes to this natural world, for this is their right. But as for the rest of us on this planet, who decides to accept Jesus as their personal Savior, and the One True Way to heaven -- we now have a chance through Jesus, to have an everlasting life, and to be heirs to the eternal kingdom -- which stretches well beyond this natural world. And you know what? I thank God everyday, for allowing all of us, who choose to believe and accept Christ as our Savior -- the privilege, and honor, of being eternal heirs to His everlasting kingdom. Thank you Father, my Most High God -- The Creator of all things, for allowing all of us a chance, to be redeemed. Thank you so much, for I know that you truly love us all - Thank you, in Jesus name... Amen. So we now begin to move forward. And just like we'd covered the name change that God had given to Abram -- for he will now be known as Abraham. In the next article, it's at this time, where we find that God decides to change the name of Abraham's wife Sarai. What name will He give her? **YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 01) Introduction of Abraham - Before He was Called 02) The Divine Calling of Abraham 04) The Strife between Abram and Lot 06) Abram's Mission to Rescue Lot Added to Page 10) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE-> 11) Sarah the Mother of Nations 
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