A calling and a promise of blessings
The journey of Abraham (originally Abram) is a powerful testimony to God’s profound ability to transform lives and impact the world through one individual. In Genesis 12:1-3, we see God calling Abram out of his comfort zone, away from his country, family, and father’s house, into a land that God promised to show him.
This call wasn’t just about relocation—it was the beginning of a divine mission. God’s words to Abram were clear and purposeful:
“Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3, NKJV)
The Purpose of God’s Blessing: To Bless Others
God’s promise to Abram was twofold: He would bless Abram, and through him, bless the entire world.
This demonstrates that God’s strategy for impacting the world often starts with a single person or a small group. When God said, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed,” He revealed His willingness to work through the seemingly insignificant to achieve His grand purpose.
The principle is simple yet profound: when God blesses us, it’s not just for our own benefit, but so that we can be a blessing to others.
As we move to Genesis 22:15-18, we find Abraham, who has now proven his faith through his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, receiving an even more detailed reiteration of God’s promise. When God saw Abraham’s obedience, He not only repeats His covenant but also expands it, assuring Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and that through his seed, all nations would be blessed:
*”Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.’”* (Genesis 22:15-18, NKJV)
This moment solidifies the truth that God’s promises are sure, and His covenant is unbreakable.
The promise is fulfilled in Christ
The apostle Paul, in Galatians 3:16 (NKJV), sheds further light on this covenant, revealing that the “seed” through whom all nations would be blessed is none other than Jesus Christ:
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16, NKJV)
This connection is crucial because it means that the blessing promised to Abraham wasn’t just for his physical descendants but was intended for all humanity through Christ. Paul emphasizes this further, stating:
“If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29, NKJV)
This is not just a historical fact but a present reality for all believers. The promises God made to Abraham are extended to us, and we are invited to live in the fullness of those promises.
Our Call to Be a Blessing
So, what does this mean for us today? It means that just as God called Abraham to leave behind what was familiar and step into His promise, He is calling us to do the same.
We are invited to separate ourselves from anything that hinders our calling and embrace the mission God has for us—to be a blessing to the world around us. The blessings we receive from God are not meant to be hoarded; they are meant to flow through us to others.
Peter, in Acts 3:25-26 (NKJV), explains to the Israelites of his time that the blessing of Abraham was also intended for them and that this blessing comes through Jesus Christ:
“You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” (Acts 3:25-26, NKJV)
This blessing, as Peter outlines, is the turning away from iniquities—a powerful reminder that the greatest blessing we can receive and share is the gift of salvation. Psalms 32:1-2 (NKJV) echoes this truth:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalms 32:1-2, NKJV)
This is the heart of the blessing God promised to Abraham—the blessing of salvation through Christ.
Living Out Our Mission: Reflecting Christ’s Blessing
As members of the body of Christ, we are called to carry this blessing to the world. We are entrusted with the solemn task of sharing the gospel to those who need it most. This is one of the greatest tasks God could give to human beings.
Paul’s words in Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV) remind us that Jesus paid the ultimate price to secure this blessing for us. He writes:
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14, NKJV)
Jesus became a curse for us, taking upon Himself the punishment for our sins, so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us. Through this sacrifice, we now have full access to the promises of God, including the blessing of salvation—the turning away from our iniquities.
Just as Abraham responded to God’s call by leaving his old life behind, we are called to do the same. We are invited to lay aside every weight and sin that entangles us and step into the purpose God has in store. Only then can we fully experience the blessing God intends for us and, in turn, become a blessing to the world.
For those in Christ, our mission is clear: to share the gospel, the one true source of the blessing that transforms lives and brings us into the fullness of God’s promise.
Understanding God’s covenant with Abraham and its fulfillment in Christ deepens our communion with Him by revealing the profound lengths God has gone to restore us to Himself.
As we reflect on these promises and our role in God’s mission, we draw nearer to Jesus, the Seed through whom we are blessed.
Our communion with Christ is enriched as we embrace His calling to be a blessing, turning away from iniquity, and living out the gospel in our daily lives. This journey is not just about personal transformation but about being a conduit of God’s grace to the world—a reflection of our deep and abiding relationship with Him.
“I will bless you…; and you shall be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2
