GOD’s Call And Blessing To Abram – A Promise Of Christ (G-12-HBS)

GOD’S CALL AND PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

The first three verses give us the threefold promise of God to Abraham (Abram), and actually this is the hub of the Bible. The rest of Scripture is an unfolding of this threefold promise.

The first of the threefold promise is the land. God says, “I am going to show you a land, and I am going to give it to you.”

The second part of the promise is the nation—”I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great.” He also promises him, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.”

The third part of the promise is that He would make him a blessing: “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” This is God’s threefold promise.

The end of Genesis 11 tells the story of Terah, Abram’s father, and the family’s journey to a new home in Haran. Genesis 12 shifts the story to Abram and his journey on into the land of Canaan.

God promises to make Abram the father of a great nation, and to give Abram’s descendants that very land. Abram begins to worship the Lord, but quickly fails a test of his faith in Egypt.

God shows Himself faithful in a miraculous way, preparing Abram for what’s to come in chapter 13.

Genesis 12:1-3 KJV

[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

[2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

[3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 12:1

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.


As in the days of Noah, God chooses to break the cycle of rebellion by working through an individual: Abram. He is to leave the post-Babel population centers and journey to a new land of promise.

As with Noah following the flood (Genesis 9:8–17), Abram’s commission emphasizes God’s ongoing plan to re-create people as a way of preserving a faithful “seed” that will undo the work of Satan (3:15).

Also as with Noah, God accomplishes this purpose by entering into a covenant, or contract, with an individual of outstanding faithfulness, someone who will pass the promise through the line of his descendants.

God’s covenant with Abram is patterned after ancient suzerain-vassal treaties. In these arrangements, a great king declared sovereignty over a weaker subject king and demanded absolute loyalty in exchange for military protection and overall security.

The terms of these agreements could be extended across generations, provided that the vassal king’s heirs agreed to fulfill the conditions of obedience.

Covenants of this kind were typical of ancient empires such as Egypt and Assyria, which ruled vast regions through local client kings.

In the present case, the supreme sovereign, God, offers a local tribal leader, Abram, blessings in exchange for obedience to God’s unilateral terms.

These terms in the verse before us are that Abram must leave everything—including his country, his kindred (ethnic/tribal group), and even some of his more immediate relatives (his father’s house)—and undertake a journey to an unspecified location.

God’s terms suggest that this is a permanent migration; there is no indication that Abram will ever return to his homeland.

Genesis chapter 12 begins one of the most crucial sections in the entire book of Genesis. Genesis is deeply focused on God’s relationship with the nation of Israel. That relationship has its first official beginning in this verse.

Scripture gives us no information on whether Abram experienced some prior relationship with God, or if he had previously communicated with the Lord. Abram’s people, including his father Terah, worshipped false gods (Joshua 24:2).

Ur and Haran, Abram’s former and current homes, were apparently centers of worship of the moon. Prior to his calling by God, Abram was pagan in every sense of that word.

Very much middle aged for his era—75 years old—Abram was wealthy and settled with his father’s extended family in Haran. He was married to Sarai, but they were barren and childless. We’re not told that he was an especially good or bad man.

As with many of the human instruments used by God, this is secondary—all that ultimately matters is that God intends to accomplish His will through this particular man and his family.

God shows up in Abram’s life with very specific commands and staggering promises. God’s first word to Abram is “go.” It’s important to note that Abram is given a two-sided instruction: both to “go from,” and to “go to.”

God calls Abram to leave behind three things: his country, his extended family or people group, and his father’s household. He was to go to an unnamed land which God will show to him.

Abram could not stay where he was and still obey God. He is being called to leave His pagan culture in order to commit himself to the Lord. In going, though, God will promise to do great things for Abram.

Genesis 12:2

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.


God continues by stating the benefits of the covenant. First, the promise that God will produce through Abram a great nation means that Abram will have many descendants.

Moreover, they will form a distinct and influential people group (see also Genesis 15:5; 17:2–4). This aspect of God’s promise is notable in that Abram’s wife, Sarai, has been unable to conceive children to this point in time (11:30).

This problem will become a driving theme in Abram’s story (15:1–8; 16:1–6; 17:15–18; 18:9–15).

The benefits of the covenant require supernatural intervention, a reality that will further demonstrate God’s power to fulfill His plans and purposes.

The term great nation further implies what will be stated explicitly later: Abram is leaving his current homeland to occupy a new territory, Canaan, which will belong to his descendants (Genesis 12:7; 13:14–17; 15:7; 17:8).

The remaining benefits to Abram emerge from the first. I will bless thee stresses the divine protection Abram will enjoy as he travels and as his influence expands.

Further, even though he has no children as of yet, the size of Abram’s clan will expand his reputation and renown (thy name great) dramatically.

Abram and his descendants will also bless others, not only in the political and economic sense but also, and more particularly, through their witness to the faithfulness of the one true God.

In the previous verse, God began His seemingly out-of-the-blue contact with Abram. God commanded Abram to go away from his country, his people, and his father’s household and to go to an unspecified land God would show him.

Now God begins a series of huge and powerful promises to Abram, which will accompany this leaving behind of everything he knows. God vows to make Abram—through his descendants—a great nation. God will bless Abram.

God will make Abram’s name great. God will make Abram a blessing.

These promises were the very things the great kings and leaders of Abram’s time would have longed for themselves.

We’re told nothing of Abram’s personal ambitions, but it seems likely these promises would have surpassed his wildest expectations for his life. Keep in mind, when these messages came to Abram, he was a childless 75-year old man living in his father’s household!

Even so, the next verse contains yet more promises from God.

Genesis 12:3

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.


More benefits that will proceed from God’s covenant are revealed. The first implies that God will relate to other nations as those nations choose to relate to the nation that is to come from Abram.

Those who ally themselves with God’s people will be rewarded for doing so, but those who stand in opposition will be fighting against God.

Such language is again typical of suzerain treaties, where the great king pledges to send aid and military support to defend the vassal king’s homeland.

Another benefit reflects God’s ultimate purpose: all people groups will ultimately be blessed somehow. What is unknown to Abram is known to us: that blessing is Christ (see Acts 3:25, 26; Galatians 3:8).

Abram’s descendants will thus serve to fulfill God’s original plan to create a world that Satan cannot destroy (Genesis 3:15; 6:18; 9:1, 9).

Verses 1–3 introduce the beginning of God’s relationship with Abram; this is the earliest history of the nation of Israel. Without any recorded preamble, God shows up in Abram’s life with a command to go away from where he is to an unnamed place.

In the going, God promises to make Abram a great nation, to bless him, to give him a great name, and to make him a blessing.

Now God continues these promises: God will bless those who bless Abram. God will curse those who dishonor Abram. In Abram, God will bless all the families, or “peoples,” of the earth.

God’s words to Abram stop there. The next verse will reveal Abram’s response. Notice, though, that the only condition for receiving these promises seems to be that Abram goes.

Aside from that, God’s promises here are not dependent on Abram’s actions, or obedience, or goodness, or worthiness. God simply says He will do these things to and through Abram. Period.

This parallels the fact that Abram’s prior life and personality are given no description: his character is irrelevant to the purposes of God in this instance.

Knowing what we know now about the history of God’s relationship with Israel, it’s clear that God does indeed keep these promises (Deuteronomy 34:1–4; Joshua 1:1–9).

Of course, Abram currently has no way of knowing that for sure. Instead, he will have to trust God to keep his vows (Hebrews 6:13–18).

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

Please Leave All Comments in the Comment Box Below

 


 

 

10 thoughts on “GOD’s Call And Blessing To Abram – A Promise Of Christ (G-12-HBS)

  1. I learn something new about the Bible every time I read one of your posts. 

    And today it is about Abraham and how God called him to leave his land. He took with him his wife, Sarai, which was understandable, as well as the son of his brother, Lot. 

    Thank you for sharing with your readers Abraham’s journey and travels.

    1. Hello,

      It is great reading another comment from you. It most certain pleases me to learn that you are learning some thing from each post.

      Thank you so much for your continued support.

      Please Have A Blessed Day,

      Jerry 

  2. Wow, the story of God’s call and promise to Abram is truly fascinating! 

    It’s amazing to see how God chose Abram to break the cycle of rebellion and work through him to accomplish His will. The threefold promise that God made to Abram is the foundation of the Bible, and the rest of Scripture unfolds this promise.

    It’s incredible to see how God’s covenant with Abram follows the pattern of ancient suzerain-vassal treaties, where a great king offers blessings in exchange for obedience. Abram was called to leave everything behind and embark on a journey to an unspecified land, trusting in God’s guidance. 

    This story reminds us that God’s promises are faithful and true. Despite Abram’s age and circumstances, God’s promises surpassed his wildest expectations. God’s covenant with Abram demonstrates His heart towards humanity and His desire to bring about redemption and blessing. 

    Have you ever experienced a situation where you had to trust in God’s promises and step out in faith, even when it seemed impossible? 

    How did it turn out?

    1. Hello Israel, 

      I appreciate you taking the time to let me know that you feel that GOD’s Call And Blessing To Abram – A Promise Of Christ (G-12-HBS) is truly fascinating. Yes, God’s promises are faithful and true.

      I most certainly have experienced situations where I had to trust in God’s promises and step out on faith, even when it seemed impossible, in the end, I was able to see what I couldn’t see originally. I then realized that I Must depend on GOD.

      Your comments are definitely appreciated, I’d love to hear back from you about other episodes.

      Thanks for stopping by,

      Blessings My Friend!

  3. Hello there! 

    As someone who is new to this topic but intrigued by the article, I find it fascinating that you describe the first three verses of the Bible as the “hub” of the Bible and the foundation for the rest of the scripture. The threefold promise of God to Abraham seems to carry immense significance in shaping the relationship between God and Israel.

    I’d like to understand more about the concept of a covenant between God and Abram. You mention that God’s covenant with Abram is patterned after ancient suzerain-vassal treaties, where a great king declares sovereignty over a weaker subject king in exchange for loyalty and obedience. 

    How exactly does this covenant work in the context of God and Abram? 

    What are the conditions of obedience that Abram must fulfill, and how does God ensure that the covenant extends across generations through Abram’s descendants?

    Also, I’m curious about the phrase “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” What does this mean in the broader biblical context, and how does it relate to God’s plan to create a world that Satan cannot destroy?

    Thank you for sharing this intriguing article, and I’m looking forward to learning more about these biblical concepts!

    1. Hello there again skamalka,

      Thank you for continuing to stop by, adding value to this HBS & DwJ Platform. 

      In Genesis 15:18. Abram, not Abraham yet, is promised an heir even though he and his wife are beyond childbearing ages. God reviews their history together, showing that God’s promises are always kept. 

      Abram saw the covenant ceremony in a vision where God lays out His plan with Abram’s descendants. This covenant, based on Genesis chapter 12, involves descendants and blessings, in addition to land.

      A covenant in ancient times is similar to a legal contract today, which binds the parties to the agreement to perform in a specific way. In the biblical covenants, the God of the universe legally obligated Himself to fulfill specific promises directly for Israel and indirectly for the world. 

      Your comments and questions are definitely appreciated, I’d love to hear back from you about other episodes.

      Thanks for continuously stopping by,

      Blessings My Friend!

  4. Your article delves into the profound biblical account of God’s call and blessing to Abram, emphasizing the threefold promise that God makes to him, serving as the central theme of the entire Bible. 

    You draw parallels to ancient suzerain-vassal treaties, highlighting the covenant’s significance and Abram’s commitment to God’s call. The idea of Abram being chosen to break the cycle of rebellion and fulfill God’s plan is thought-provoking. 

    Your exploration of God’s promises, such as becoming a great nation and being a blessing to others, demonstrates the far-reaching impact of this covenant. 

    Tying the historical narrative to broader theological concepts provides readers with a rich perspective on the significance of this story and its implications for faith and theology.

    1. Hello again Ashley,

      Thanks for continuing to stop by the HBS & DwJ website, turned podcast to comment on additional episodes. 

      Please feel free to continue to stop by and share your thoughts on other information on this HBS & DwJ website anytime, your perspective is definitely welcomed.

      Your opinion on this topic, as well as all of the others you comment on, is very much appreciated.

      Blessings To You My Friend!

  5. This is a fascinating exploration of Genesis 12 and the threefold promise to Abram. 

    It’s remarkable how God’s covenant with Abram sets the stage for the unfolding of the Bible’s story.

    How do you see Abram’s journey and God’s covenant with him reflecting broader themes of faith and obedience in the Bible?

    1. Hello, and welcome back Alice,

      Thank you for stopping by, and continuing to add value to this HBS & DwJ Platform. 

      Abram was first called to leave his family and his homeland while in Ur. From what Moses tells us in chapter 11, it was Terah, Abram’s father, who brought Abram (along with other members of the clan) out of Ur (11:31). Haran, Abram’s brother and Lot’s father, died while they were still in Ur (11:28). 

      One other thing is clear from chapter 11: when Terah took his family to Haran, it was with the intent of going all the way to Canaan (11:31). Somehow, when they reached Haran, they settled there and never went on to Canaan in Terah’s lifetime.

      Therefore we must say that the “call” of Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 is really his “second call,” something like Jonah’s second commission to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-2). 

      The difference is that Jonah refused to go where God told him and went in the opposite direction. Abram was providentially brought part way to Canaan, though he seems passive in this, rather than acting out of obedience.

      God removed all doubt as to the proper course of action when He reiterated the call. Abram seems not to have left his family as much as they (Terah, at least) left him by death. 

      The call of Abram was similar in its demands to that of marriage. Abram was, so to speak, to “leave and to cleave” – he was to leave his family and his homeland, and to cleave to God, by faith.

      Your comments and questions are always appreciated, I’d love to hear back from you, feel free to comment on other episodes.

      Thanks for stopping by continuously,

      Blessings My Friend!

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