Today’s covenant takes us to an ancient city bustling with life and culture. Into this civilization, God reaches out to one man and speaks:
Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you
I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” Gen 12:1-3
God invites 75-year old Abram to leave what he has known and journey with Him instead. Ur was a polytheistic society and it’s not clear what Abram’s idea of God was at that point. He didn’t know God as a friend yet, but we do know is that Abram obeyed this call and came to know God. It seems an awfully big request to leave everything and nearly everyone he had known for an unknown destination. But we are told in the book of Hebrews that Abram was a man whose heart was fixed on eternity. And perhaps for that reason he was able to hear the call and willingly obey.
Decades later found him settled and prosperous in the land of Canaan when God showed up to him again. Abram reminds God that he does not yet have a son and God promises him a son and heir
a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.”
As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram[b]; your name will be Abraham,[c] for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”Gen 15:4-5, 17:4-8
God kept His word and before long the elderly couple had a miraculous child of promise. From him grew the family, and then the nation of Israel, defined by their covenant with God as His people. Hundreds of years would pass before another miraculous child would be promised to Abraham’s descendants.
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel Isaiah 7:14
Through this child would come the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. He would be a blessing to all the nations by bringing the riches of His grace and forgiveness. His presence would herald in the kingdom of heaven. Through faith in Him, people from every tribe and tongue would joined to the family of Abraham, and all considered children of the Great Promise.
Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Gal 3:8-9
Blessings to you,
Sarah
anordinarymiracleday 