From Promises to Covenants

The relationship between God and Abram was one based on promises. But gradually, it evolved into a covenant.
It all began when Abram was 75. We do not know how long he had been worshipping God. But that is not significant because once again, numbers don't count.
Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
And 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.
I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves." (Genesis 12:1-3)
Then Abram began his adventure.
Let's take a look at this "promise" from God. God would give a piece of land to Abram and make a great nation out of him. He would become famous and a source of blessing of all the families of the earth. Therefore, through Abram, God intended to bring salvation to all nations, not just the Jews who did not even exist. Though God did not mention the descendants of Abram, it was understood. Nobody wants to build up a kingdom just for himself. Surely he wants his children to inherit and expand his kingdom.
Abram did not ask for it. It was God who had freely chosen him and would generously build a nation out of him. God could have chosen another person, probably a Chinese. Therefore, it was a promise, a free gift from God.
Of course, you will disagree and say that there is no free lunch in the world. Abram had to sacrifice his (paternal) family, relationships, comfort and security in order to obtain this gift from God. Therefore, it was not at all free. You may also look at Abram as a shrewd merchant, grasping a once-for-a-life-time investment opportunity. And investment involves risks. Therefore, it was not at all free.
I totally agree with this thinking. God's promise and any opportunity offered by God, always entails a certain amount of sacrifice. When Jesus called his disciples, he made it clear that they had to give up a lot of things: relationships, property, money and power etc. Therefore, let us day-dream not that all our problems will be solved once we follow Jesus.
After the separation of Lot from Abram in order to prevent further in-fighting between the herdsmen on both sides, God reaffirmed His earlier promise. This time, descendants were explicitly mentioned. Therefore, God's promise to Abram consists of two parts: children and land. Weren't these wishes/blessings very typical in Near East?
The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants for ever.
I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted.
Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you." (Genesis 13:14-17)
Lot was caught in the cross-fire of two warring blocks of nine nations. He was captured and luckily, Abram saved him. After this event, God reaffirmed His promise in the form of a covenant. A heifer, a she-goat and a ram were cut into halves. God and Abram walked between the halves to show that this was a serious covenant. Whoever does not keep the covenant would pay with his life (Genesis 15:9-17).
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,
the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites." (Genesis 15:18-21)
So, God's promise had been elevated to the level of a covenant.
To extend this covenant to the descendants of Abram, God renamed Abram to Abraham (Genesis 17:5) when he was 100. Then, God institutionalized circumcision so that this covenant would cover all the descendants of Abraham. He also renamed Sarai to Sarah (Genesis 17:15), who was 90. She would bear a son to be called Isaac.
God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him exceedingly; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year." (Genesis 17:19-21)
Circumcision becomes a sign of covenant. No wonder the Jewish Christians had difficulty accepting uncircumcised Gentiles to the congregation of the redeemed.
God has His own time frame. He reveals gradually His salvation plan.

Dear Lord, You are our Creator and Redeemer. You have never given up Your Creation. May we follow Your wisdom on our way home. Amen.