Welcome back, friends!  We left off yesterday with the thought that before the foundation of the world, God has been ON MISSION to provide redemption to His created beings who, because of free will, wrestle with the sin problem that blossomed in the Garden of Eden. 

Though God can do infinitely anything He desires in any manner He chooses, He chose a man named Abram (whose name was later changed to Abraham) to become a vessel of world redemption.  Indeed, it was through the line of Abram and his descendants that God’s redemptive plan came to be.  Let’s discover how and why!

Abram and his family were pagan, idol-worshipping Gentiles in a place known as Ur of the Chaldeans. The last few verses (27-32) of Genesis 11 tell us Abram’s family was on the move, perhaps as part of the scattering of people from Babel.  But apparently God had something to say to that pagan Gentile! Pull out your Bible and read Genesis 12:1-3.

Study tips:

• Can you find 7 promises of God in these verses?

12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
² I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
³ 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

Most of us are familiar with 2/3 of verse 3: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.”  But have you carefully considered the third part of that verse? What do you think the Lord meant by that last phrase?  How can all the families of the earth be blessed through one person?

It takes a very unique call which God announced to Abram in Genesis 12 and confirmed in a covenant with Abram in Genesis 15.  But fast forward to Genesis 17 and read verses 1-8.

Study tips:

• What details do you find interesting?
• What is a covenant? How important do you think this one was? Why?
• According to verse 7, who is included in the covenant?  For how long?
• What is God’s promise in verse 8?  For how long?
• How long is everlasting?  (Remember your answer throughout this study!)

Interestingly, God changed the name of this servant from Abram (“Exalted Father”) to Abraham, which He defined as “father of many nations” in verse 5.  It is significant because Abraham was about to become more than the head of his family. He would be the head of the entire Jewish population throughout eternity!

There were no Jews before Abram.  He was the first.  It required a very unique call of God to change that pagan Gentile into Father of the Jews!  A new heritage was birthed, and God did it through a strong, solemn relationship sealed with an oath.  We call it a covenant, and this one featured a one-way ratification.  Genesis 15 fully describes the actual covenant in which a deep sleep came upon Abram, leaving the cutting of the covenant solely to God (verse 12). Verse 18 confirms the fact that God made a covenant with Abram.  Scripture says nothing of Abram’s reciprocity, only that he was obedient to that very unique call of God.

Moreover, the covenant extends eternally through the descendants of Abram/Abraham (the Jews).

Devotional moments:

• In Hebrew culture, names mean something. Abram likely was an “exalted father” in his family, but God needed a “father of many nations” in which to spread redemption. (See Genesis 17:4-5)
• Likewise, God changed the name of Abram’s wife from Sarai (a rather common name with no significant meaning) to Sarah, implying “princess” and “mother of all nations,” according to verse 16.
• Imagine the weight of expectation if you and your spouse are tapped as “father and mother of many nations.”  It can only happen one way: if God cuts the covenant and the one receiving the covenant remains fully yielded to His mission!
• What is God’s mission for you, and how has He made it clear to you?  How are you ON MISSION with God?

God’s mission with Abraham was clearly established and confirmed through the Abrahamic Covenant, and the mission will be fulfilled through Abraham’s descendants, the Jews.  It is a worldwide mission and was delivered in a 3-fold calling to Abraham.  We will examine each of these calls over the next three days, so keep your Bible handy and get ready for the ride!