Day 39. The Call to Be a Blessing

Genesis 12. (CSB)

The LORD said to Abram:

Go from your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s house

to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make you into a great nation,

I will bless you,

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,

and all the peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.,

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him.

Abram leaves the known for the unknown. He leaves being known for anonymity. He leaves a house built to a house in process. But he does it all to be with G0d.

Again, note the list of three things in Gen 12:3. Note that this list of three is actually made in couplets (groupings of 2). When reading these parallel statements, it is good to read both lines for the primary truths the present together. Look for clear commonalities--or clear contrast--between the two statements.

• I will make you are great nation//I will bless you

  • "nation" can imply government, land, political associations, religious associations with a particular divinity, and personal identity.

  • In other words, every thing that Abram gave up with his "land," God promises to restore.

  • And it will be "great."

    • Could this refer to quantity? Most certainly, where in Gen 15:5 God promises that his offspring will number the starts. Even the world will be blessed--so the scope is universal.

    • Could this be quality? This seems true as well. God's gifts have the potential of infinite impact--something truly reflecting the character of God. Again, think "whole earth."

• I will make your name great//and you will be a blessing

  • The idea of "name" certainly connects back to "relatives" or "clan" in 12:2.

  • Not only will Abram's name be great--he will have relatives and tribes to spare, but God will again restore the very people that Abram had to leave behind in order to serve.

• I will bless//curse (a doublet within a doublet)////and all people on earth will be blessed through you

  • The promise of protection is essential when crossing borders and cultures. God promises protection and response for Abram.

  • Abram leaves the security of his own "house" and finds that God will be his comfort and shield on his journey.

  • Note that Abram gives up his "house" but will eventually bless the "World" through his faith and pursuit of God.

These three statements convey some significant ideas.

• GOD WILL redeem. It is his plan. It is his process. It is his power.

• GOD WILL bless the world through Abram. Abram is the conduit by which God will deliver his redemption. There is no power in Abram to initiate these changes. But his presence is required. Incarnational ministry always requires presence. Why? Because our relational God wants to share the journey and the blessing with us.

• GOD WILL ask for submission and sacrifice. He gained a new life in grace and generosity. Sacrifice for God is opportunity for God-sized experiences and blessings--for us, for our community, and for our world.

• GOD WILL bless Abram as the conduit for these blessings. It is a privilege (and a disruption) to hear the calling of God. It is a joy to journey with God. It is a joy to know God's blessing. It is a joy to know God's transformation.

How can our world be saved? How can our mission succeed? How will our investment reap benefits? GOD WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.

PRAYER: Father, we see that you are our redeemer. We see your plan for salvation initiated through Abraham. Thank you for including us in this plan. Thank you for your promise of protection. Thank you for using us to bring blessing to our world. Thank you for including us in this God-sized project. Multiply the sacrifices made for this trip--by leaders, by donors, by participants, by families and friends--so that your blessings may be seen and experienced by the whole world.

Amen.