The all-embracing terms of this covenant were familiar to Abraham's children and to his children's children. It was in order that the Israelites might be a blessing to the nations, and that God's name might be made known "throughout all the earth" (Exodus 9:16), that they were delivered from Egyptian bondage. If obedient to His requirements, they were to be placed far in advance of other peoples in wisdom and understanding; but this supremacy was to 369 be reached and maintained only in order that through them the purpose of God for "all nations of the earth" might be fulfilled.

Både Abrahams børn og børnebørn kendte de omfattende betingelser, som denne pagt indbefattede. Israelitterne blev befriet fra trældommen i Ægypten for at kunne blive en velsignelse for alle folk, og for at Guds navn kunne blive forkyndt "på hele jorden" (2Mos. 9,16). Hvis de var lydige imod Guds krav, ville de komme til at stå langt over andre folk visdom og indsigt, men de ville kun opnå denne forrang, for at Guds plan med "alle jordens folk" kunne blive gennemført ved deres hjælp.