Friday Devo
Scripture:
Genesis 12:3-4
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Commentary:
12:3 Although Abram is called to be a blessing to others, much rests on how they treat him. Those who are positive toward Abram will experience God’s favor; the one who despises Abram will know God’s displeasure. The text speaks of those who bless (plural) but of him who dishonors (singular), emphasizing that many more will be blessed than cursed. Indeed, such will be the influence of Abram that all the families of the earth shall be blessed in him. This promise is later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob (see 22:18; 26:4; 28:14). in you. This may simply indicate “by means of you,” but it is more likely that this expression is designating Abram as the covenantal representative for a people. To be “in” some person, then, is to be a member of that people for whom that person is the representative (cf. 2 Sam. 19:43; 20:1). This seems to be the way Paul takes it in Gal. 3:8–9, where “in you” becomes “along with Abraham”; it would also explain the origin of the NT expression “in Christ.”
12:3 The inclusion of all the families of the earth anticipates the spread of the gospel and salvation in Christ to the ends of the earth (Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; Gal. 3:8).
12:4 The brief report of Abram’s response presents his obedience as immediate and unquestioning. Lot went with him. Abram may have been responsible for Lot following the death of Haran (11:27–28). Since by this stage Lot is a wealthy adult with considerable possessions (see 13:5–6), readers may assume that he desires to support Abram’s mission.
12:3 The inclusion of all the families of the earth anticipates the spread of the gospel and salvation in Christ to the ends of the earth (Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; Gal. 3:8).
12:4 The brief report of Abram’s response presents his obedience as immediate and unquestioning. Lot went with him. Abram may have been responsible for Lot following the death of Haran (11:27–28). Since by this stage Lot is a wealthy adult with considerable possessions (see 13:5–6), readers may assume that he desires to support Abram’s mission.
Questions:
- God made Abraham a promise that would've been difficult to swallow. This man, who was in his mid 70's, was promised offspring that would become a great nation. There are a couple of things to note here. First, to receive a promise from God meant that Abraham was in communication with Him. He was close enough to Him to hear His voice. Can the same be said of you? How close are you to God? Are you spending time with Him? Are you learning to hear His voice in your life?
- Secondly, this promise from God had a condition… Abraham had to leave it all and trust God, not fully knowing where he was going or what lay ahead. God said, “Go!” Abraham said, “Where?” And God answered, “I’ll show you later.” Has there been time in your life when you were in a similar situation, having to trust God with outcomes that were out of your control? When was the last time your faith was tested in this way?
Pray:
- That you would learn to know God's voice.
- That you would prove you trust God through your radical obedience to Him.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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