“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:2–3, ESV)
Since the Fall of mankind, this is the first recorded appearance of the God of glory. After the debacle at the Tower of Babel, God turns from nations to one man -- one solitary man. Out of all the nations, the God of Heaven sets His sovereign, electing hand on one man. God makes (what theologians call) a covenant with Abram. This is the first record of the Abrahamic Covenant. You will note that this is unconditional. God obliges Himself to the terms. "I will, I will and I will," says the Lord.
"The Abrahamic covenant includes three commitments by YAHWEH. First, Abram personally would receive abundant blessings, including wealth, fame, and influence, and would be a source of blessing for others (v. 2). In fact, the verb in the final phrase of v. 2 is grammatically an imperative. Abram is instructed to be a blessing. Thus, his call was from the outset a missionary mandate encompassing all people. Second, Abram would be protected by God. Third, Abram’s blessing would extend to his descendants (v. 7; lit. “seed”), who would be an instrument of spiritual blessing to all the families of the earth (v. 3)." [1]
Abram's whole life was centred upon these promises. In fact these promises will form the basis of believing Israel's faith and more importantly the faith of the Christian Church. Prior to God revealing this Covenant, He said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1, ESV). "The call of Abram shows us the starting-point of the life of faith. The first requirement is separation from the world and from our place in it by nature. Abram was called upon to leave his “kindred” as well as his “country.” Terah was an idolater, whereas Abram had become a believer in the living God, therefore it was expedient that Terah should be left behind for “how can two walk together except they be agreed” Even the closest ties of human affection cannot unite souls which are sundered by opposite motives, the one possessing treasure in heaven and the other having nought save that which moth and rust cloth corrupt and which thieves may steal." [2]
Father you have made varied and many promises to us who believe. You have said that if any come to You, You will never turn them away. To all who fall in humble trust upon Christ, You grant full pardon and eternal life. We are called to come out of the world and many times we are called to live and believe differently than even our closest relatives. This is not a condition to be saved; it is a consequence of Your redeeming grace. Help us this day to stand faithfully to Your calling. Even when loved ones oppose us, may Your mercies enable us to “. . . hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, . . ..” (Luke 14:26b, ESV). We know that is a hyperbole, yet it describes for us the massive affection due to You versus human relationships and endeavours. Kindle a deep and abiding love for Christ in us, Father, by that all-effectual work of the Spirit. Amen.
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1. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Ge 12:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2. Pink, A. W. (2000). Gleanings in Genesis (electronic ed.) (141). Escondido, CA: The Ephesians Four Group.
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