(1) Blessing as a covenant: extremely fruitfulness
“I am the Sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless. 2 Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.
(NET) it has a positive moral connotation (“serve me faithfully”), then the second imperative probably indicates purpose (or result)"then you will be blameless."
(NET) If Abram is blameless, then the LORD will ratify the covenant. Earlier the LORD ratified part of his promise to Abram (see Gen 15:18–21), guaranteeing him that his descendants would live in the land. But the expanded form of the promise, which includes numerous descendants and eternal possession of the land, remains to be ratified. This expanded form of the promise is in view here (see vv. 2b, 4–8).
(BKC) As God Almighty, He was fully capable of accomplishing all His promises...refers either to His ability to supply abundantly [“the Abundant One”] or to His majestic strength [“the Almighty One”]...One can well imagine that Abram was hurt by the suppressed smiles on the faces of his men when he told them to call him Abraham, meaning the father of a multitude of nations—when he was 99 years old (vv. 1, 24). Yet Abraham knew that God had not deceived him. His new name and his wife’s new name were perpetual reminders of God’s sure word. Every time someone addressed him he would recall God’s promise, until finally Isaac, the child of promise, would call him “abba” (father).
Reflection: God is able to keep His promise, can we fulfill the condition. Namely, to serve Him faithfully and then be blameless. What is required to walk in the presence of the almighty God? To be aware the He have power to do everything and I need to trust Him. He did not need me to serve Him, but He gave this to me to see my faithfulness. I do not need to worry when I serve Him.
(2) Blessing of the covenant: abundant descendants and eternal possession of the land
A. Abundant descendants: nations, kings will descend from you, perpetual covenant, "God will be your God"
abundant: (EBC) the descendants of Abraham who belong to this covenant will owe their existence to God alone, the covenant with Abraham to be the means through which God’s original blessing would again be channeled to all mankind.
kings: (EBC) the genealogy of Matthew 1: “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
B. The whole land of Canaan as permanent possession
8 I will give the whole land of Canaan—the land where you are now residing—to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession. I will be their God.”
(EBC) when the covenant was granted in chapter 15, there was not yet a mention of its being “eternal.” Thus as God reiterated his role in the covenant, the focus was centered on his everlasting faithfulness.
Reflection: God's promise to Ab was full in 3 dimension, number, height (King), and depth (everlasting relationship and eternal possession of land-both spiritual and physical). God really knows how to bless and He was able to keep those promise. I do not need to be afraid that the life following Him will be lacking in any way.
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