The Abrahamic Covenant: His people to represent God's ways to all  

Hebrews 11:6-22

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should later receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore there sprang even from one, and him as good as dead, as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded by them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they are seeking a fatherland.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a City.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called,"
19 accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from whence he also received him, in a figurative sense.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones.

The account of Abraham can be found from Genesis chapters 11-25. There are two main points in Abraham's life. The first is the promise made to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. In fact he was the father of two great nations, one through Isaac and one through Ishmael. Abraham as we know is the father of  the Hebrew nation or God's chosen people who are called to demonstrate God's ways to all on earth and the second is through Ishmael, where the Arabians trace their roots to.  It is important to note that the promise of the land (Gen.15:18) was passed to Isaac, which is what is at the root of the controversy in the Middle East. Ishmael was the first born of Abraham, but not with Abraham's wife Sarah. Sarah is the mother of Isaac and in the Hebrew tradition it is not the father that determines the heritage of the child but the mother. Today as we all know there is much controversy over the land in the Middle East between Arabs and Jews, because of Isaac and Ishmael. 

For the purpose of this study two things are important. The first is God's covenant with Abraham and God's faithfulness to Abraham even though Abraham would be considered somewhat of a rogue. Although Abraham was a sinner as scripture points out, God was faithful. That is an important thing to note, God proves Himself to man, but He expects man to walk by faith based on His promise or covenants, sooner or later as we see in Abraham's case, Abraham was called by God to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. One can make a good case that God did the same with Jesus and be assured it was difficult for God to do so. So the first point about God's Covenants is that God regardless of what we do, stands by His Words to people. We do know that sometimes God does put conditions on promises, but in this case His promise stood with Abraham. Abraham although was a sinner he did have a love and respect for God. 

With all of God's Covenant's there are blessings and curses. Blessings for observing His Covenants and curses if His ways are not observed. Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of Israel and Israel defined literally is God's people as Jews are Israelites, which are a Covenant people with God. Those that bless Jews are blessed by God. Those that curse the Jews are cursed by God still to this day because God does remember His Covenants, always. Abraham did start two nations with two sons, the first illegitimate son, Ishmael (meaning one who God hears Gen.17:20, but also a wild man whose hand will be against every man. Gen. 16:12 ) from Hagar who was an Egyptian and handmaiden of Sarah (meaning mother of nations, Gen. 17:16), Abraham's wife. Isaac as we know was the son of Abraham and Sarah, chosen of God to start the blood line of the Hebrews. The Hebrews or Jews are God's people called and chosen of God to demonstrate the will of God to all people on earth.

To this day God's people are still Jews. Jesus as we know came from Mary a Jew, but also from God. Today because of Jesus we can be re-born through the blood of Jesus, which is more precious than the blood of earthly parents. This makes us not only God's children because of the Father through the Son, but also through Mary the mother of Jesus. We are not only grafted in as Jews but are also called to be a royal priesthood to receive His anointing, which was reserved in the Old Testament to only kings, prophets and priests. This is due to the death of Jesus and the ripping of the veil in the Holy of Holies giving access to all in the Holy of Holies once reserved only for high priests and they could only enter once a year, but now all can approach the throne of Grace with boldness if we have died to self and given our lives to Him.

By faith standing on God's promise all the greats in the Old Testament according to Hebrews 11 obtained favor with God and His Covenants with man. Today by faith we have secured our place with Him and in Him, who is already seated at the right hand of the Father, Christ and we are His body and He has already put everything under His footstool. Ephesians 1-2. It should be noted that because of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection and our acceptance of Him we have the ability to become sons, even those that believe on His name, John 1:12. Without Jesus we were in the world and of the world and Satan is the god of this world. Through Jesus we have the ability to see the truth and the truth can set us free, if we walk in the truth and the light that we have been given by faith. Jesus because of what He did brought things back to the place of grace where Adam was before sin. Like Adam we all either eat from the Tree of Life or we eat from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. We all make a choice to either walk with God daily in the kingdom of God, having no will of our own except the will of the Father as Jesus did or we eat from the Tree of Knowledge which allows us to make our own choices in life, trusting our senses or flesh walking by sight instead of walking by faith with God as sons, being led by His Spirit. How does one know if they have eaten from the correct tree? 1Jo 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. What we do to each other, even the very least, we do to Him.

Genesis 12:1-3

1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
3 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."