GOD’S PROTECTION FOR THE FAITHFUL – A STUDY OF ABRAHAM’S COVENANT WITH GOD (GENESIS 12:1-3)

Dear Members in Christ,

God’s protection for the faithful – A study of Abraham’s covenant with God (Genesis 12:1-3)

A believer’s relationship with God also embraces trusting in God’s protection and care. In the covenant relationship between God and Abraham, the Lord God had promised that those who bless Abraham will be blessed, and on the contrary, those who curse Abraham will be cursed. This is the promise which God had given to Abraham in Genesis 12 when He said,

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

We know that this promise relates to the protection which God promises Abraham. This was reiterated in the account of Balaam’s attempt to curse Israel when he said, “God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.” (Numbers 24:8,9). From the account in the Book of Numbers where Balaam the false prophet failed to curse Israel, we learn that God’s protection is extended to the people of God. 

A. God’s blessing and protection for His chosen people

The nation of Israel, as we know from Old Testament History are descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (who was later renamed Israel by God). God’s covenant with Abraham includes the promise of a land, a nation and a spiritual heritage of salvation. Whatever God says, He is faithful to perform. So when God promised to Abraham, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee”, we see the comprehensive protection in the life journey of Abraham.

In Genesis 20 we have a remarkable account of Abraham and Sarah going to the south country in Gerar. The king Abimelech had taken Sarah, and Abraham had lied that she was his sister for fear of being slain. But God spoke directly to Abimelech,

“Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.” Genesis 20:7

Through this episode, we see God’s hand of protection upon Abraham and his family lineage through which the Messiah will come. When Abimelech had taken Sarah, a curse had come upon his household for “the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.” Genesis 20:18. But when Abraham prayed for Abimelech, the curse was lifted and “...God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.”

Dear brothers and sisters, our God is an omnipotent God. Full of mighty miracles and power. When He promised protection to His servant Abraham, He fulfilled it to the uttermost.

B. The blessing of protection and care for the people of His covenant

God’s covenant promise to Abraham includes the land, the nation, the promised Messiah and God’s protection. God’s covenant protection also extends to Isaac, Jacob and all His chosen people. The Bible describes God’s protection upon His faithful as saying, “He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:10). We still use this phrase the apple of one’s eye to describe someone who is treasured and protected with great care. In fact, even despite the doom of impending Assyrian invasion, the prophet Isaiah had these words of comfort for the people. 

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

We read of a similar kind of encouragement and protection in the Lord’s discourse when He taught the disciples about imminent persecution. The Lord Jesus said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.” (Luke 21:17,18). God’s attribute of faithfulness is seen in His care and protection for His covenant people. God’s faithfulness is from everlasting to everlasting. 

Dearly beloved, we can trust in God’s care and protection for He is faithful. We pray earnestly for His mercies for every venture and journey in our lives. Every event happens according to God’s sovereign will and wise counsel, whatever the result. We can be assured that God loves and cares for us, and whatever the outcome, we trust God to do what is best according to His sovereign will. May God be praised. Amen.    

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor