The Abrahamic Covenant, as we discussed in class, consisted in three promises, two which were significant in Genesis. What were these two significant promises? Describe also the two-fold fulfillment of these covenant promises in the history of redemption.
God gave Abraham the promise of a great blessing in Genesis 12 through the promises of a son or seed, through the promise of a land to call their own in Genesis 15, and finally the promise of a covenant law to govern the people in the land in Genesis 17. The significant promises in Genesis are that of the seed in the promised son and heir, for without an heir Abraham could not become a great nation. And the promise of the land to call their own, so that they could find rest in the dwelling place of God as Adam experienced in the garden. The initial fulfillment of the promised seed is a typological fulfillment in Isaac pointing towards the true fulfillment in Jesus Christ as the seed of Genesis 3 and Galatians 3. The birth of Isaac leads to the establishment of the patriarchal line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob which gives rise to the royal family in Genesis finding greater fulfillment in the Nation of Israel as evidenced in the Hexateauch. Finally this promise realizes its true and ultimate fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ, the true Israel. The second significant promise of land is given its typological fulfillment in the Book of Joshua, but the foundations for the people dwelling in the promise land are laid in Genesis. It is important to note that the dwelling place of God was the focus of the need of land and rest. The true seed, Jesus Christ, would pave the way to the true promise land of the eternal, heavenly Kingdom. This the ultimate dwelling place of God, where true rest and true fulfillment of God's promise will come.
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