The Blessings From Abraham’s Obedience to God’s Call (Genesis 12: 1-9)

Blessing from Obeying God’s Call (Genesis 12: 1-9):

Abraham (who is also known as Abram in the Bible) was from the Ur of the Chaldeans, he was the son of Terah. Terah had three sons Abraham, Nahor and Haran. Terah attempted to travel from the Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of Canaan and took some family members including Abraham. His other sons did not go on the journey with him. Haran was dead so he could not go, his son Lot accompanied Terah. Nahor was alive but did not go on the journey.

Although Terah was going to Canaan, he stopped at the city of Haran and settled there. He died in Haran and did not make it to Canaan. After Terah died it became Abraham’s responsibility to lead and guide his family. It was here in Haran that God called Abraham.

God told Abraham to leave his father’s house, his countrymen and his country and go to a land that He (that is, God) will show him. God blessed Abraham because Abraham had genuine faith in God and lived his life in total obedience and submission to God.

These are the four blessings God promised to give Abraham;

1. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation.

2. God promised to make Abraham a blessing and make his name great.

3. God promised to bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who cursed him.

4. God promised Abraham that everyone on earth would be blessed through him.

Abraham obeyed God’s instruction to go to a new land that He (that is, God) would show him. Abraham took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and all the possessions they had in Haran and they journeyed together to Canaan. Abraham and his companions travelled through the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At this site in Shechem God appeared to Abraham and promised to give the land to his offspring, so Abraham built an altar there for the Lord. As Abraham journeyed toward the east hills of Bethel, he settled here for a short time and built an altar to the Lord. Abraham repeatedly called on God and worshipped Him at this altar before he continued on his journey.

God blessed Abraham because Abraham was obedient to Him. God fulfilled His promises to Abraham and Abraham became;

i. The father of many nations, his descendants are as many as the stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore.

ii. Known as a great man, he had a great name and was blessed financially, he had lots of folks and heard, gold and silver, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

iii. Highly favoured by God, those who blessed Abraham were blessed and those who cursed him were cursed.

iv. God blessed all the nations of the world through Abraham because Joseph, who is Jesus Christ’s earthly father is a descendant of Abraham. Therefore, Abraham is one of Jesus Christ’s earthly ancestors.

v. God gave Abraham and his wife, Sarai a son when they were both very old. This was a miracle in the eyes of Abraham, his wife and everyone who heard about it.