God Promises a Nation
Genesis 12:2 (NIV)
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you” – Genesis 12:2 (NIV)
Despite God’s swift judgement of sin, most people ignored (and ignore) Him and continued to sin. But a small number of people really tried to follow him. One of these was Abram. God appeared to him one day and promised to make his descendants into a great nation. Abram’s part of the agreement was to obey God, even throughout testing and uncomfortable times, and He remained faithful.
When God called him, and he obeyed, God established a covenant with him, telling him that a great nation would be born because of him. And not only will this nation be blessed, but the other nations of the earth will be blessed through his (Abram’s) descendants. Israel, the nation that would come from Abram, was to follow God and influence those with whom it came into contact. Through Abram’s family tree, Jesus Christ was born to save humanity. Through Christ, people can have a personal relationship with God and be blessed beyond measure.
God promised to bless Abram and make him famous, but there was one condition. Abram had to do what God wanted him to do (God also changed his name to Abraham). This meant leaving his home and friends to travel to a new land where God promised to build a great nation from Abram’s family. Abram obeyed, walking away from his home for God’s promise of even more incredible blessings in the future.
God may be trying to lead you to a place of more outstanding service and usefulness for Him. Don’t let the comfort and security of your present position make you miss God’s plan for you. Allow God’s promise to bless all families of the earth through Abraham to manifest in your life.
Prayer
Father, You made a covenant with Abraham and promised to make him a great nation. You promised that he would be blessed to be a blessing and that in him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Abraham believed You, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Let it be done for us in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Read: Deuteronomy 28:12; Psalm 37:4
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 22:12-21; Mark 1:29-45; Mark 2:1-17; Exodus 19; Exodus 20
