I don’t know how far we will go with this account of Abram. It may be only a few verses or maybe a few chapters or it may become a book of his journeys with God. The first few verses of Genesis chapter 12 just came alive to me again. So we’ll follow the Lord as long as He leads. We will say like Abraham’s servant Eliezer, “I being in the way, the Lord led me” (Genesis 24:27).
Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.
The Lord said unto Abram: The voice of the Lord is not to be thought of as something external. Abram heard His voice within himself.
Abram, get thee out of thy country: The same Hebrew word can be translated “go” or “come.” However, it would be more accurately translated as “come.” God is not telling Abram to go while He remains. He is saying, “Come to a land I will show you.” Abram is to follow the Lord as the Lord leads. He is journeying with the Lord. The same invitation is given to us. He will lead us if we will only follow. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14. Why is it so difficult for us to allow the Lord to lead us? Well, first we must want to be led. Then we must be able to hear His voice. Then we must be willing and obedient for Him to lead us even when we would not choose the course before us. Very few Christians would be willing to do what Abram did.
Abram, come out of your country! The Hebrew word for country is erets. It is also translated earth and land. It is important to understand the meaning of erets. It is not merely a geographical term. It also involves the spiritual influences over a particular area. Abram lived in Ur of the Chaldees which was a land of idolatry. The principality over Ur was an evil influence that held the people in idolatry. If Abram was going to become what God wanted him to be, he needed to get out from under the dominating spirit over Ur. After leaving Ur it would be necessary to get Ur out of Abram. It was the same way with Israel after being slaves so long in Egypt. It took a year to get them out of Egypt, but it took 40 years in the wilderness to eliminate the Egyptian spirit that came out with them. For this reason the Lord said to Abram, “Come out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house to a land I will show you.” Abram was leaving a land with an evil spirit hovering over it to a land solely under the influence of God’s Spirit. And that land was not the land of Canaan. Abraham only sojourned there, for he was looking for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). In other words, Abraham was looking for the spiritual habitation only found in God.
Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation (goy), and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
I will make of thee a great nation: The Hebrew word for “nation” here is goy. And, in particular, it means a foreign nation. To the Israelites a foreign nation would be any Gentile nation, but when God makes a foreign nation it is foreign to mankind. It is a spiritual nation, and that nation is in the realm of the Kingdom of God.
I will bless thee, and make thy name great: Very often prophecies such as this one to Abram have their greatest fulfillments in Christ. Abram’s name will be great because of his faithfulness and he will be a blessing but a greater fulfillment will rest upon the Lord Jesus Christ, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Thou shalt be a blessing: The literal translation is “Be thou a blessing!” Abram is commanded to be a blessing. He could not take the attitude that he would be a blessing merely because it was spoken. He must be determined to be a blessing; it was his responsibility.
Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
What we call the boomerang principle is clearly seen here. It is established by God and it works. What a person sends out comes back upon him. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). If you send out blessings, you will be blessed. If you send out curses, you will be cursed.
God said to Abram, “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” This promise could not be fulfilled by Abraham alone. Ultimately, it would rest upon Christ (Galatians 3:16) and then the many-membered Christ (Galatians 3:29). Therefore, this promise is to be realized through the Church, which means the responsibility “to be a blessing” rests upon us also. Now, let’s not forget the boomerang principle. To not be a blessing is to be lumped with those who curse. As members of Christ we have the responsibility to bless “all the families of the earth.” Of course, some would say, “How can not sending a blessing be the same as cursing?” Jesus explained that in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The one with five talents gained five more and was blessed, as was the one with two. But the one with only one talent hid his in his earthen nature (verse 25); he did not minister the blessing he had. Jesus responded by saying, Thou wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed. Thou ought therefore to have put my money (blessing) to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent (blessing) from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents. For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:26-30.
The servant with one talent had the responsibility of being a blessing to others, but he did nothing. Being a Christian means we have the responsibility of ministering what we have received from the Lord. What He gives to us of Himself is to be given to others. Know what He has given to you and be determined to minister it to others. In other words, be determined to be a blessing.
Genesis 12:4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken to him.
Abram didn’t linger. He knew what God had spoken to him and he immediately set about to be obedient. He departed, as the Lord had spoken to him. He was determined to be all that God had spoken.
Copyright © 2009 by Henry DuBose