Throughout the Bible, God often refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This phrase is first used in Exodus 3:6 when God appears to Moses in the burning bush and tells him, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
This reference to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has deep theological significance. By calling Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God is establishing His eternal covenant faithfulness to His people. Though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived hundreds of years before God spoke to Moses, God was still their God. He is the eternal, unchanging God who remains faithful from generation to generation.
God’s Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
To understand the significance of God calling Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it’s important to understand the covenant God made with each of these patriarchs. God’s covenant with Abraham is first introduced in Genesis 12, when God promises to make Abraham into a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2-3). This covenant is later confirmed and expanded to Abraham’s son Isaac (Genesis 26:2-5) and grandson Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15).
The covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob included several key promises:
- God promised to give them a great nation and many descendants (Genesis 12:2, 13:16, 15:5, 17:6-8, 28:14)
- God promised to give their descendants the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7, 15:18-21, 28:13)
- God promised to bless them and make their name great (Genesis 12:2, 22:17, 27:29)
- God promised that all peoples on earth would be blessed through Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 12:3, 22:18)
This covenant was unconditional – God promised to be faithful to Abraham and his descendants even when they were unfaithful to Him. God’s covenant with Abraham was an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:7, 19) that continued through Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants.
God Reminds Israel of His Faithfulness
Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly reminds Israel that He is the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, God tells them in Exodus 3:15, “The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
By linking Himself to the patriarchs, God reminds Israel of His faithfulness and the promises He had made to their ancestors. Though hundreds of years had passed, He was still their covenant God. He had remained faithful to His promises and had finally delivered them from slavery in Egypt, just as He promised Abraham in Genesis 15:13-14.
God continues to identify Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob throughout Israel’s history (Exodus 4:5; 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Chronicles 29:18; 2 Chronicles 30:6). Each time He does, He reconnects Israel to their heritage of faith and reassures them of His eternal faithfulness.
Jesus Affirms God’s Identification
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself affirms God’s enduring identification as the God of the patriarchs. When challenged by the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection, Jesus refutes them by quoting Exodus 3:6, where God says, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Jesus then states in Matthew 22:32, “He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”
Jesus used God’s quote to prove that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still alive with God after physical death. This affirms the eternal nature of the soul and the reality of the resurrection. But it also demonstrates that hundreds of years after the patriarchs lived, God still identified Himself as their God. He is the faithful, unchanging, eternal God.
Why the Reference is Important
There are several key reasons why God’s reference to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is theologically significant:
- It emphasizes God’s eternal nature – As the great I AM (Exodus 3:14), God is eternal and unchanging. His character and promises remain the same from generation to generation.
- It highlights God’s covenant faithfulness – God remains committed to His promises. Though Abraham and his descendants were often unfaithful, God never forgot His covenant with them.
- It connects Israel’s history together – By linking Himself to the patriarchs, God reminds Israel of their shared history and heritage of faith.
- It points forward to the Messiah – God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham (Genesis 12:3) would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
- It teaches resurrection hope – As Jesus showed, the fact that God is still the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob proves they are still alive with Him.
Overall, this key phrase underscores God’s unchanging faithfulness and eternal nature. He is the covenant-keeping God who remains true to His promises from generation to generation. Though the patriarchs lived long ago, God still identified as their God, revealing His enduring commitment to His people.
God’s Faithfulness to Spiritual Descendants
Not only is God faithful to the physical descendants of Abraham, but He also shows covenant faithfulness to all those who share Abraham’s faith. The Apostle Paul explains in Romans 4 and Galatians 3 that all believers are “sons of Abraham” through faith in Jesus Christ.
Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6), those who put faith in Christ are also credited with righteousness (Romans 4:3, 9:8). They become true spiritual children of Abraham. And as spiritual children, they share in the promises God made to Abraham (Galatians 3:29).
Paul confirms that this expanded covenant family includes more than just Jewish believers: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29). All those who belong to Christ through faith become heirs of God’s covenant promises.
Therefore, God’s identification as the God of Abraham powerfully applies not only to biological Israelites, but also to Gentile believers grafted into God’s family. Just as God showed covenant faithfulness to Abraham’s physical descendants, He will be eternally faithful to His spiritual descendants who share the same faith.
God’s Enduring Faithfulness
One of the most prominent themes of Scripture is the God’s enduring faithfulness to His people. Over and over, the Bible proclaims:
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9).
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts” (Psalm 103:17-18).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
No matter how much time passes or how often His people fail, God persists in His faithful love. His promises are secure. His word endures. He does not change.
When the Lord proclaims “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” He reminds His people of this steadfast faithfulness. Though hundreds of years have passed, He remains their God. He keeps His covenant forever.
Implications for Believers Today
What are some key implications for believers today from God’s self-identification as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
- Our God is eternally faithful – If God remained faithful to His covenant for hundreds of years, He will remain faithful to us. We can trust His steadfast love and promises to His people, even when we are faithless.
- Our hope stretches into eternity – Just as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were still alive with God after physical death, we have resurrection hope through Christ. Our soul’s salvation extends beyond this world.
- We serve the great I AM – The eternal God who spoke to Moses is the same God we serve today. He does not change. He remains the great I AM through all generations.
- We are children of the promise – All believers become heirs of God’s covenant promises to Abraham by faith. His blessings extend to all His spiritual children.
No matter what happens in our lives, we can take great comfort, courage, and hope in the fact that we serve the eternal, faithful, covenant-keeping God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He remains true to His promises and lovingly committed to His children.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Revelation
God’s enduring identification as the God of the patriarchs is powerfully highlighted at the close of Scripture in Revelation. As part of his magnificent vision of the New Jerusalem, John writes:
“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:22-27)
Then in the following chapter, after describing the “river of the water of life” and the “tree of life” in the New Jerusalem, John quotes Jesus saying:
“Behold, I am coming soon! I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:16-17)
As the vision comes to a close, John offers this benediction:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21)
It’s highly significant that the last reference to God in Scripture is this declaration at the end of Revelation 22:
“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21)
The Bible begins with God as the Creator in Genesis, and ends with Jesus as the coming King in Revelation. From beginning to end, Scripture reveals the steadfast faithfulness and covenant love of God. He remains true to His promises, from Abraham to the New Jerusalem.
In Revelation, we come full circle to see the fulfillment of God’s covenant plan across history. His purposes are accomplished in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the establishment of a new creation. As the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David, Jesus creates a new people of God drawn from every tribe, tongue and nation.
Most significantly, in the New Jerusalem the dwelling place of God is forever with His people. He makes His home with them in the new creation, just as He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The eternal, intimate fellowship between God and His people is restored. He is Immanuel, God with us.
From Genesis to Revelation, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob proves Himself to be the faithful, covenant-keeping God. His steadfast love endures forever. He remains Immanuel – God with us – yesterday, today and forever.