That first step is a doozy

The promise of shared blessing.

Genesis 12:1–3 HCSB

The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Lets look at this first and arguably most important of all the promises made to Abram. We are going to be sticking with Abram for three weeks starting today.

Today we are talking about the Promise of Shared Blessing

Next week we will be talking about The Promise of a Lasting Legacy

We will finish up in the third week with The Promise of Communion.

God Promises Abram four specific things.

Genesis 12:2 HCSB

I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will make you a great nation

Giving Abram the promise brings with it the beginnings of the power that comes with being an entire nation, not just a group of people. It brings with it Social, Economic and Political power.

I will bless you

A great nation is made up of people. Abram is being promised Children and not just any children a male Child. This was understood to be an important blessing because it is through the Male Child that the name is passed down. (expound)

I will make your name great

Recognition is important in being promised “celebrity” Abram is going to be known and that knowing will bring a weight to his life both while he is living it and throughout history.

You will be a blessing

All of these things will be for the purpose of Abram being a blessing taken further when Yahweh says.

Genesis 12:3 HCSB

I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

We read that this last one is not just you will be a blessing God is telling Abram I got your back but he goes a bit further to explain that what’s really going on here Abram is all these things I’m giving you, I’m giving you for a reason and that reason is so that ALL of the people on the earth will be blessed. NOT SOME NOT A FEW BUT ALL!

But what’s it take for The Promise of Shared Blessing

Takes Courage

Abram was sent away from everything he knew, from all that he knew and understood based on God saying God to a land I will show you. The plan was you go I’ll show you where you’re going. You’ll know when you get there. (Story from My Great Grandma)

Takes Commitment

Genesis 12:4 HCSB

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.

Abram had to step out. He had to say okay this is what God said and I’m going. I’m packing all that I have and I’m not looking back. (Talk about The Comedy Store and some of the comedians from there)

Takes Faith

Genesis 12:7 HCSB

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.

Part of Faith is a recognition that there is something more than just some feeling or some presence out there guiding the universe. Part of Faith is a recognition that there is a God, that God is interested in the intimate details of Humanities life. Once Abram understands this he can do nothing less than take a step of faith into a relationship with God that was different than others in his family had. Remember this is generations after What happened with Noah. God is once again stepping into His creation and working the promise of redemption and is doing it with part of that creation. Abram building an Altar to God is an acknowledgment a realization that these actions are being directed by someone, something greater than I, and I am going to trust. I am going to trust and I am going to act according to the plan.

This Week’s Challenge

Step out this week and be the blessing that God has designed you to be in some tangible way.