Deeper ReflectionThe divine call to Abram has a twofold command, represented by
two imperatives – “Go from your country” (v.1) and “so that you
will be a blessing” (v.2). Each imperative is followed by three
promises from God: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless
you and make your name great” (v.2); and “I will bless those who bless
you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families
of the earth shall be blessed” (v.3).The idea of blessing is central to the promises God gave to Abram,
with the key word “bless” occurring five times in verses 2 to 3. Abram
will ultimately be the channel of God’s blessings to “all peoples on
earth” (v.3b, NIV). “And it appears that at this point a more spiritual
significance of ‘blessing’ is in mind.”
35 God promised Abram great
personal blessings in order that he might ultimately be a blessing to
all peoples / the families of the earth. And God’s promise that “in your
offspring all the nations / families of the earth shall be blessed” was
subsequently reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob (Gen 22:18; 26:4; 28:14).From the New Testament perspective,
God’s blessing comes
through faith in Jesus Christ, the offspring of Abraham: “And the
Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all
the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along
with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Gal 3:8-9)
To bless the nations, the
Church must keep on preaching Christ!
35 Allen P. Ross, Creation & Blessing: A Guide to the Study and Exposition of Genesis (Baker Academic, 1997), 263.
