The Concept of a Destiny Pronounced to Abraham
Meaning
“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. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'” (Genesis 12:1-3)
God made a pronouncement to Abraham of a destiny that would give rise to the nation of Israel, from whom the Messiah would come. A Messiah who would take away the sins of the world and provide for salvation for all those who placed their faith in Him alone. And that long awaited Messiah is Jesus Christ our Lord. By making this covenant with Abraham, God did three things. He gave a promise when He said, “I will bless you.” He also gave an obligation to Abraham and all of his descendants, including those who are his descendants by faith in Christ. That obligation came when God said, “So that you will be a blessing.”
Today this obligation means all children of God through our faith in Jesus are called by God to use our time, talents and resources to equip the church, further the Gospel and help those in need. And finally God gave a prophecy when He said, “By you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This was a reference of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of God, who came from the seed of Abraham. With this pronouncement, God set in place a destiny for Abraham and this world. A destiny which culminated in the coming of the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Moreover, we must never forget, Jesus is also coming again, and that time is very soon, it could even be today!
“You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” (Gospel of Luke 12:24)
“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1st Thessalonians 5:2)