PART II – THE COVENANT 

SERIES OPENER – In a world ruled by fear and superstition, one man’s faith would shape history. Called to leave his past, he stepped into the unknown. Guided by a promise, his faith was stretched to its limits. A legacy was born that would shape generations and change the world.

This is the story of Abraham.

INTRODUCTION

Abraham, man of faith and friend of God.  He’s on an incredible journey where he encounters challenging terrain and hostile enemies. But he’s also on a personal spiritual journey, one of faith and trust.  Years have passed since God made His extraordinary promise to Abram. And still Abram is waiting and hoping and waiting. God had promised Abram land, and descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth and stars in the sky.

But there was only one problem. Abram’s wife Sarai was still childless. And despite God’s assurances to Abram, Sarai couldn’t see how it could happen. As the years pass, the promise of a child has become more and more impossible. So, Sarai, unable to see where her place was in God’s plans, plots to take matters into her own hands.

Join me, as we follow the story from the quiet shade of Mamre’s oak trees to the burning ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah, and explore how Abram’s faith was tested once again, and how God’s covenant was renewed in unexpected ways.

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HELPING GOD

The promise of a son echoes in Abram’s mind, but reality seems to mock it. Every morning, he walks past his servant Eliezer’s tent, and a thought gnaws at him. You see, in those days, it was perfectly normal to adopt a trusted servant as your heir if you couldn’t have a child of your own. Maybe it was the sensible thing to do, the practical solution? Maybe God’s plan needed a little help?

And then, there is such unhappiness in the home. Sarai is feeling completely overlooked by God due to her inability to conceive. So, she comes up with a plan that, while common in their culture, would lead to tension, heartache and conflict in the household. 

It was accepted back then that if a wife couldn’t have children, she could offer her servant to her husband, and any child born to the servant would legally be considered the wife’s. So, Sarai’s servant, Hagar becomes part of Sarai’s new plan.

Now Sarai, desperate for the promise of a child to be fulfilled, asks Abram to take Hagar as a surrogate in hopes of realizing the promise of descendants.

So, what do we know about Hagar? Well, in Genesis, she is described as an Egyptian handmaiden, a servant, or even a slave, implying she had limited legal rights or freedom. Hagar was likely given to Sarai by Pharaoh when he took her into his harem during their visit to Egypt. 

And then when Abram’s family left Egypt, it appears they were allowed to keep the gifts given by the Egyptian king. And so, this ‘gift’ from the Pharaoh soon became a new complication in Abram’s marriage.

At Sarai’s insistence, Abram would be intimate with Hagar. Abram struggled that God’s promise had been a long time coming, and perhaps this was the way the promise would be fulfilled. And so he finally agreed to Sarai’s plan. 

HOUSEHOLD DRAMAS

But as soon as Hagar became pregnant, Hagar began to look down on Sarai. She now scorns her mistress. The dynamics in the household have taken a dramatic turn. Sarai, who had initiated the plan, becomes furious. She feels humiliated by Hagar’s attitude and becomes even more desperate.

Though this had been Sarai’s idea, the reality was more difficult than she had imagined. In her frustration, she now blames Abram, saying, 

“May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.” (Genesis 16:5)

Abram, caught in the middle of the conflict, tells Sarai to handle the situation as she wishes. Sarai then mistreats Hagar, and the tension in the household [grows] to be unbearable. Finally, Hagar, feeling abused and unwanted, flees into the wilderness.

Hagar’s escape took her on the Darb el Shur, the ancient caravan path that ran between Beersheba [and] Egypt. As she rested by a spring of water, Hagar had a surprising encounter. 

SURPRISE ENCOUNTER

The Angel of the Lord appeared to her and called her by name, 

“Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (Genesis 16:8)

Hagar, in her distress, explained that she was fleeing from her mistress. The angel responded with both a command and a promise. He told her to return to Sarai and submit to her, but then he made a remarkable promise. 

Hagar, a servant girl on the run, was told that she too would be the mother of a great nation. Her son, Ishmael, would be a lawless man, whose descendants would multiply on the earth but live in constant conflict with others.

The name God gave Hagar for her child was a powerful reminder that she was not alone in her suffering. Ishmael means ‘God hears’. God had seen her suffering and had promised her a future. 

Hagar returned to Abram’s household, and in due time, she gave birth to a son. Abram appears to have accepted her story of her encounter with God because he names the son Ishmael. Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. 

It was only 11 years ago that Abram had left Haran in obedience to the call of God. Now he has welcomed a son, but this son is not the son that God had promised. 

Thirteen more years passed, and just when hope seemed lost God appeared to Abram again and renewed His covenant in a powerful and unexpected way.

NEW COVENANT, NEW NAMES

God said to Abram, 

“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.” (Genesis 17:1,2)

Abram, overwhelmed by this encounter with the Almighty, fell face-down in worship. God reaffirms that His Covenant is with Abram and that he would be the father of many nations. And then, God made a profound change – He gave Abram a new name.

Abram means ‘exalted father’,  but God now renamed him Abraham, meaning ‘father of a great number”. This was more than just a simple name change. 

In the ancient world, names carried deep significance. By changing Abram’s name to Abraham, God was declaring that His promise was still alive, and that Abraham would indeed be the father of many nations, despite the challenges surrounding him. 

But the covenant renewal didn’t stop there. God affirmed that His Covenant was not just with Abram but that it would be with his descendants too. 

God introduced a new symbol – circumcision – that was to be the physical sign of the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants. 

Every male in Abraham’s household, including himself, his sons, and all male servants and their sons, were to be circumcised as a symbol of their participation in this covenant. From that day forward, every male born into Abraham’s family would be circumcised on the eighth day of life.

Also, as part of this renewed covenant, God said to Abraham, “your wife, Sarai will be given a new name.” Now, the name Sarai meant ‘my princess’. But now she would be called Sarah, meaning ‘the princess for many’. 

RENEWING A PROMISE

God promised, 

“I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations, and kings of peoples would come from her.” (Genesis 17:16)

This news was almost too much for Abraham to believe. He fell face down and laughed to himself, not out of disbelief, but perhaps out of wonder and amazement. How could a man of 100 and a woman of 90 have a child? 

Yet, God assured Abraham that the child would indeed come, and his name would be Isaac, meaning ‘he laughs’. This name would be a constant reminder of the joy and surprise that God brings into the most unlikely circumstances. The very reaction of Abraham would serve as the name for this child of promise.

As Abraham pondered this new promise, he couldn’t help but think of his son, Ishmael. He asked God to bless Ishmael as well. And God did. He promised that Ishmael would be the father of twelve princes and a great nation.

But God was very clear: the covenant of promise would come through Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah.

MYSTERY GUESTS

Soon after receiving their new names, Abraham and Sarah receive some mysterious guests. It was a quiet afternoon near the great oaks of Mamre when Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. 

Now, this wasn’t just any ordinary visit, because of one of these men was God Himself, and the other two were angels. In Abraham’s culture, visitors were seen as a blessing and welcoming them was a duty that no honourable person would ignore.

But this visit was more than just a social call – it was a divine encounter. Recognizing how special these guests were, Abraham ran from his tent to greet them.

He bowed low to the ground, showing not just respect, but also that he knew who these visitors were, and that they were holy. Even though Abraham was almost 100 years old, he moved quickly to prepare a meal for them.

In the ancient world, hospitality was a big deal. It wasn’t just about giving food and shelter; it was about offering protection, honour, and respect. So Abraham went out of his way to show these visitors the highest level of hospitality. 

Abraham addressed the leader of the three and said, 

“O Lord, if I have found favour in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on–since you have come to your servant.” (Genesis 18:3-5)

He turned to Sarah and asked her to make bread from the finest flour. Then he ran to his herd, selected a choice calf, and had it prepared for the meal. The young man he asked to help was likely his son Ishmael.

Abraham made sure that his whole household was ready to serve these honoured guests. The feast he prepared wasn’t just a snack; it was a meal fit for royalty, with curds, milk, bread, and tender meat. 

He stood nearby as they ate, like a servant ready to help. Abraham’s hospitality showed his deep respect for God and the honour he felt toward these visitors.

IDENTITIES REVEALED

As the guests rested and ate, they revealed their true identity by repeating God’s promise that Abraham and Sarah would have a son. 

They asked, 

“Where is Sarah, your wife?” and Abraham replied, “She’s in the tent.” (Genesis 18:9)

Now, Sarah was actually listening just inside the tent, ready to help if needed.

This time, the promise of a son came with a timeline: within a year, the Visitor would return, and Sarah would have a son. Hearing this from inside the tent, Sarah couldn’t help but laugh to herself. 

She was ninety years old, and Abraham was almost a hundred. The idea of having a child at their age seemed impossible, even laughable. 

The Visitor, asked, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18: 13,14)

PLANNING DEBATE

After the meal, as the visitors prepared to leave, God did something extraordinary. He decided to share His plans with Abraham, revealing His intention to investigate the outcry against the evils in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

This showed the deep trust and friendship between them. God wanted Abraham to see that His actions were just and fair. He wanted Abraham to pass on the lessons of righteousness and justice to his children and to his household. 

So God told Abraham about the judgement that was to come. Now, Abraham was very interested in the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. His own nephew, Lot, who had previously separated from him, now lived in Sodom.

God said to Abraham, 

“Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:20)

Abraham’s response was bold. He didn’t just accept God’s plan without question; he engaged in a heartfelt dialogue with God about the fate of the people in Sodom. 

BARGAINING WITH GOD

Knowing his nephew Lot was living there, Abraham asked, 

“Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city. Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? (Genesis 18:20)

God answered that if He found fifty righteous people in the city, He would spare the entire place. Abraham kept asking, as an Advocate, slowly lowering the number from fifty to forty-five, then to forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten. 

Each time, God agreed, finally saying that if even ten righteous people were found in Sodom, He would not destroy the city.

When God first promised that the child of promise would come through Sarah, Abraham had asked, “What about Ishmael?” Now, he was showing that same compassion for those facing judgment. 

When he suggested the number fifty, he was thinking of a small city’s population, which could be about 100 people. Ten, the final number Abraham settled on, was considered the smallest group that could form a community of worshippers in the Jewish tradition.

Abraham’s seven questions to God weren’t disrespectful; they showed the depth of his  relationship with God. He wasn’t afraid to speak honestly, ask questions, and seek to understand. 

ENCOUNTER IN SODOM

The two angels left Abraham’s camp and travelled to Sodom, where they were greeted by Lot at the city gate. 

Like his uncle Abraham, Lot knew it was important to offer hospitality to these strangers. He insisted that they stay at his home for the night, urging them not to remain in the city square.

Lot’s insistence wasn’t just about being kind; it was also about keeping his guests safe. He knew the type of people that lived in Sodom and feared for his visitors’ safety. 

When Lot first chose to live in the fertile plains, he was a nomad like Abraham. Then over time, he settled in the city of Sodom, and his daughters were even engaged to men from the city. 

Lot might have hoped to make a positive difference there. The fact that he was sitting at the city gate suggests that he held some position of authority or respect in Sodom. 

Just like his uncle, Lot offered water for his visitors to wash their feet. He also made a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and treated them with respect, just as Abraham had done. The angels sat and ate the food that Lot, his wife, and daughters had prepared.

 That evening, things took a very dark turn. The men of Sodom, both young and old, from every part of the city, surrounded Lot’s house. They demanded that he bring out his guests so they could do them harm. 

This wasn’t just a threat; it showed complete disregard for the sacred duty of protecting guests. In the ancient world, harming someone under your roof was a huge violation of honour and respect.

URGENT WARNING TO LOT

Lot, hoping to protect his guests, went outside and shut the door behind him. He begged the crowd not to act wickedly. Lot felt responsible for his visitors’ safety because they were under his protection. 

In a moment of desperation, he even offered his daughters in place of the guests – a troubling choice that showed the impossible situation that he was in.

The crowd reacted with anger. They were furious that a foreigner like Lot was trying to stop them from carrying out their plans. Even though Lot had lived among them and held some authority, they still saw him as an outsider and mocked him for acting like a judge. 

They now intended to abuse Lot even worse than they had planned to harm his guests. Just then, the angels pulled Lot back into the house and struck the men outside with blindness, preventing them from finding the door.

Even though Abraham had asked God to spare the city if ten righteous people could be found, there weren’t even that many. So, the angels warned Lot to gather his family and leave the city immediately. 

They told him that they’d been sent to destroy Sodom because its wickedness was beyond saving. They even asked Lot if he wished to bring any of his friends with him. So, Lot went outside to warn the people of the town, but they just laughed at him.

As the dawn approached, the angels urged Lot again, 

“Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” (Genesis 19:15)

LED OUT OF THE CITY

Then the angels grabbed the hands of Lot, his wife, and his daughters, leading them safely out of the city. 

 They urged them to run to safety without looking back. 

“Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Genesis 19:17)

Lot was afraid and asked to be allowed to escape to the smaller town of Zoar for refuge, fearing he may not make it to the mountains in time. 

God showed mercy once more, allowing Lot to flee to Zoar while holding off the destruction until they had reached safety in the town. 

Lot and his family arrived in Zoar just as the sun was rising. As soon as he was safely inside the city God’s judgment came down on Sodom and Gomorrah, raining burning sulphur on the cities. 

Tragically, Lot’s wife looked back at the burning city and turned into a pillar of salt. She didn’t just glance back; she left the safety of Zoar to watch the destruction. Her fate was a powerful reminder of what happens when we cling to the things that God wants us to leave behind.

But Lot didn’t stay in Zoar for long; he was afraid it might be destroyed like Sodom, so he moved to the mountains just as the angels had originally told him to do.

In the lonely hill-country, Lot and his daughters might have thought they were the last people left after the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Sadly, Lot’s daughters came up with a plan to have children with him to repopulate the land. The two sons who came from this relationship would become the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites, nations that would later have a complicated relationship with their relatives, the Israelites.

Early in the morning, Abraham went back to the place where he had pled with God for Sodom and Gomorrah. He looked out and saw smoke rising in the distance, like smoke from a furnace. It was a sobering sight of the serious consequences of sin. 

Archaeologists have long wondered where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located. Some believe these infamous cities might have been near the southern end of the Dead Sea, where they’ve found evidence of ancient settlements, signs of catastrophic destruction and a high level of flammable materials. 

CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES

Now Abraham believed and tried to follow God’s direction, whereas Lot on the other hand, made choices that led him to moral compromise. And yet God’s mercy still reached out to save him. When we’re surrounded by wrong influences, we have a choice as to whether we get involved with them.

Like Abraham, we are called to walk in faith, trusting God even when His promises seem distant. Will you, like Abraham, step into that covenant relationship with the God who hears, the God who sees, and the God who keeps His promises?

So, join us next time as we continue Abraham’s journey – a journey that leads to the birth of his promised son, Isaac, and the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith. 

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If you have enjoyed our journey in the footsteps of Abraham and our reflections on God’s covenant, grace and mercy, then be sure to join us again next week, when we will continue to follow the fascinating story of Abraham. 

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