God's Sovereignty in Patriarchal Promises and Covenants

The concept of God's sovereignty is deeply intertwined with the patriarchal promises and covenants in the biblical narrative. The promises made to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are foundational to understanding God's relationship with his people and the unfolding of his redemptive plan.

The biblical account presents God's sovereignty as actively engaged in making promises and covenants with the patriarchs. For instance, God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and 7 is seen as a foundational moment in establishing a covenant relationship ^[2]. This promise is not just a paternal blessing but a sovereign act that sets the stage for the history of Israel and the coming of Christ.

The nature of these covenants is described using the Hebrew term "berith," which signifies a binding agreement or covenant. In the context of the patriarchal narratives, "berith" is used to describe God's unilateral commitment to his people, as seen in the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ^[1]. The author of Hebrews highlights the immutability of God's counsel in making these promises, emphasizing that God interposed with an oath to demonstrate the certainty of his intentions to the heirs of the promise ^[3].

The promises made to the patriarchs are characterized by their unconditional nature, resting solely on God's faithfulness and sovereignty. The Psalmist reflects on this aspect, noting that God remembers his covenant forever, specifically referencing the promises made to Abraham and his descendants ^[11]. This remembrance is not merely a recollection but an active engagement in fulfilling the covenant promises.

The New Testament further illuminates the significance of these patriarchal promises and covenants. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, argues that the inheritance granted to Abraham is by promise, not by law, underscoring the sovereign nature of God's gift ^[5]. The book of Acts also references the promise made to the fathers, indicating its continuation and fulfillment in the Christian era, with the promise being "to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself" ^[4].

The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, emphasizes the continuity of God's covenantal promises from the Old to the New Testament, highlighting God's faithfulness and sovereignty in fulfilling his promises ^{[9, 10]}. Calvin's commentary on Genesis underscores the significance of the patriarchal narratives in understanding God's covenantal faithfulness.

The Presbyterian interpretation, as seen in the commentary on Jeremiah, notes that the promises made to the patriarchs are part of a larger narrative of God's redemption, with the new covenant being a fulfillment of the old ^{[6, 7]}. The Tyndale House commentary on Hebrews further explains that the new covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, is realized in Jesus Christ, marking a significant moment in the fulfillment of God's sovereign promises ^[8].

Sources

Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1285] berith (part 4/6) — with David Psa 89:4; 89:29; 89:34; 89:39; 132:12; Jer 33:21 (compare 2 Samuel 7 = 1 Chronicles 17); a divine promise to the seed of David of an everlasting kingdom, the relation of sonship, and the superintendence of the temple (compare Psalms 2..) g. Jehoiada and the people 2Kin 11:17 2Chr 23:3, a constitutional agreement to be the people of Yahweh. h. Hezekiah and the people2Chr 29:10, a constitutional agreement to reform the worship. i. Josiah and the people 2Kin 23:3, a constitutional agreement to obey the book of the covenant. j. Ezra and the people Ezra 10”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
Hebrews “In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; -- Hebrews 6:17”
Acts “For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” -- Acts 2:39”
Galatians “For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. -- Galatians 3:18”
Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 8:10: Repeated from Jer 6:12-15. See a similar repetition, Jer 8:15; Jer 14:19. inherit--succeed to the possession of them.”
Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 32:34: (Jer 7:30-31; Eze 8:5-17).”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 8:7: 8:7-13 The author quotes Jer 31:31-34, an Old Testament prophecy concerning the new covenant that includes a number of striking promises. Establishing the superiority of the new covenant lays a foundation for the argument in Heb 9:1–10:18 that the Son’s offering under the new covenant was superior to the offerings of the old covenant. 8:7 The first covenant, made at Sinai, was not faultless. It was not the end of God’s plan, because it didn’t solve human weaknesses (see 7:11-28; 8:9).”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 53.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1 1:27 1:27 3:17 3:17 3:18 4:11 4:13 4:14 6:5 7:11 8:1 10:4 10:11 11:29 11:31 11:31 12:1 12:1 12:17 14:6 14:16 15:1 17:7 17:7 19:24 19:37 20:2 20:8 20:14 21:2 21:5 25:1 25:14 25:14 27:38 27:38 32:3 32:10 32:12 36:8 36:9 Exodus 3:8 7:13 8:15 13:3 13:5 13:8 13:14 13:17 14:14 14:21 14:22 15:10 17 18:21 19:5 19:6 19:6 19:6 19:6 20:1 20:2 20:24 20:25 23:32 27:1 29:45 33:3 34:6 34:6 34:15 34:30 Leviticus 19:9 19:10 26:3-13 26:8 26:12 26:12 26:16 Numbers 3:1-4:49 10:36 12:6 13:22 23:19 24:13 30:3 32:34 Deutero”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 28.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1-6 1:1-31 1:2 1:28 1:29-30 2:1 2:1-25 2:15 2:19 3:1 3:1-24 3:7 3:16 4:1 4:1-26 4:7 5:1 5:1-32 6:1 6:1-22 6:11-16 7:1-24 7:11 8:1-22 9:1 9:1 9:1-29 9:2 9:24 10 10:1 10:1 10:1-32 10:21 11:1 11:1 11:1-32 11:28 12:1 12:1 12:1 12:1-20 12:4 12:4 12:6 13:1 13:1-20 14:1-24 15:1-21 15:7 16:1-16 16:2 16:8 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1-27 18:1 18:1 18:1-33 18:19 19:1-38 20:1 20:1 20:1-18 21:1-34 21:15 22:1-24 22:18 23:1-20 24:31 25:1 25:13-16 35:7 48:1 Exodus 6:3 12:40 Leviticus 7:18 17:4 18:25 Numbers 6:2”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 105:8: We are here taught, in praising God, to look a great way back, and to give him the glory of what he did for his church in former ages, especially when it was in the founding and forming, which those in its latter ages enjoy the benefit of and therefore should give thanks for. Doubtless we may fetch as proper matter for praise from the histories of the gospels, and the acts of the apostles, which relate the birth of the Christian church, as the psalmist here does from the histories of Genesis and Exodus, which relate the birth of the Jewish church; and our histori”

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