Is the covenant with Abraham conditional? (Gen 17:1-8)

When her late majesty, Queen Elisabeth II died, many reminisced about former meetings with her in person. Some were initially nervous after they had been instructed in all the protocols around such an event, the dos and don’ts, the rules of how to address her and how to behave. When they met her, however, she put them at ease, and they found her kind and not at all intimidating. Those who have constant contact with royalty probably develop habits of correct behaviour until it is second nature to them and they no longer need to think about it. Consciously or sub-consciously though, they always must be aware of whose presence they are in. A long succession of prime ministers who had weekly audiences with her majesty, also commented on how refreshing it was for them to talk to her, get an outside perspective and learn from her wisdom while knowing that what they shared would not be passed on to others so that they could safely unburden themselves.

What God asks of Abraham

When Abraham encounters God in our reading, he is told to walk before God (i.e. live in His presence; Gen 17:1) and this may seem as daunting as meeting or serving royalty! God’s concern, however, is not with protocol, but with a morally upright life (to be blameless). We see this in Noah’s description whose blamelessness is coupled with being righteous, a man who walked with God (Gen 6:9). What such integrity involves is not spelt out (it will subsequently be outlined in the Law), but for later Israelites the word ‘blameless’ (tamim) was associated with sacrificial animals who had to be without defect (tamim, e.g. Lev 1:3). The point was not perfection, but wholeness or completeness without obvious faults such as being lame, blind, ill and so on. In moral terms then, this translates into a godliness that aims for a consistent life of faithfulness with God. While it may feel intimidating to walk with and be in the presence of Almighty God (do we have to watch our every step?), it need not be because God is also our ally who is for us. He wants us to succeed and do well and He is committed to us, as He was to Abraham (Gen 17:2).

God’s promises

God has already promised Abraham descendants and the land, but the details are further filled in with an emphasis on royalty coming from him (Gen 17:6). It is also the first time that God’s commitment is explicitly extended to Abraham’s descendants as well, so that it will be an everlasting (i.e. a permanent) covenant with the permanent gift of the land (Gen 17:7-8).[1] God’s promise is affirmed by a name change (Gen 17:5) from Abram (’av ram = exalted father) to Abraham (’av raham = father of a multitude). The difference in the name may seem negligible and indeed, when pronounced, one can hardly hear the soft ‘h’ in the new version. However, its significance is in the Giver. Names in the ancient world usually expressed the parents’ hopes for a child’s destiny or character, so that Abram’s parents obviously wished him to become a highly respected, exalted father or patriarch. However, when God gives a new name, it is a promise and a certainty: Abraham will father a multitude of descendants.

The covenant with Abraham – conditional?

Although we often emphasise that the covenant with Abraham was unconditional, and indeed it was, this should not be taken in a rigid fashion. All relationships involve some reciprocity and so God’s commitment calls for a response from Abraham. This in no way means that God’s promises are contingent on his good behaviour or that he earns God’s favour through it. Indeed, God will prove excessively generous to Israel for the sake of his covenant despite their many sins. Yet, He desires a mutual relationship. For us, Christians, walking in God’s presence goes one step further because we have God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and we are united with Christ. What would it mean for us to be aware that we are constantly in God’s presence? Would it make us self-conscious about our thoughts, feelings, actions? May we find comfort and encouragement in His presence and meet His generous love with our love for Him.

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[1] Eternal (‘olam) in Hebrew has the sense of permanence without foreseeable termination rather than the idea that something stretches into eternity. Thus, Hannah dedicates Samuel to God so that he might stay in the temple ‘forever’ (‘olam), i.e. permanently (1 Sam 1:22).

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