This third phase of the kingdom began through Abraham. (The calling of Abraham came about 250 years after the scattering.)  Through Abraham and his descendants God would establish His purposes and kingdom. Mainly, He gave them an eternal and unconditional covenant through which, in His time, all men would be blessed.  There are four elements to this covenant: 1) a seed (Gen. 17:2-7); 2) land (Gen. 15:18-21); 3) a nation (Gen. 12:2; 17:4); and blessing and protection (Gen. 12:3).

The important element in this phase of God’s kingdom program is that through the promise of the “seed” (Gen. 17:2-7) there is an anticipated fulfillment of one that would be king (Gen. 49:10; Gal. 3:16).  As Balaam’s prophecy declares (Nu. 24:17), “A star shall come forth from Jacob; and a scepter shall rise from Israel.”

We see also during this period that there were certain individuals that God appointed to represent…