03 - Advent

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day  3 | GOD BLESSES ABRAHAM
GOD BLESSES ABRAHAM

Genesis 12:3
“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”


Reading the entire Bible is much like reading an extended play…  it has many acts and many chapters.

In this chapter Abraham was chosen by God to father the Jewish race.  Yes, it was unlikely, given that he and his wife had NO children when God promised this, and both were past the age of having babies.

I try to imagine how the conversation between God and Abram must have gone.  It was probably REALLY strange to hear that he and Sarai were going to have a baby AND so many relatives that they couldn’t count them all.

Then God promises Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

God told Abraham that HE was making the future Jews HIS chosen people, and Abraham would be the patriarch.
 
Then he adds this: “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Not only was Abraham promised blessing from God, but also that he – Abraham – would be a blessing to ALL peoples on the earth.

This fantastic promise was fulfilled by the Messiah (Jesus Christ) who came through Abraham’s lineage.  The blessings weren’t promised for Abraham’s sake or even Israel’s…  but ALL the families of the earth.

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you, all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” Galatians 3:8-9

Again, here in the first Bible book of Genesis, we see more confirmation of the future coming of the Messiah… who would be a blessing to the entire world.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for planning this out for our benefit.  Help me remember to give THANKS for all these prophecies about Jesus coming to earth as part of Your Master Plan. Amen.