Text: Genesis 12: 1-3, “The Lord  had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go 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, I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you.’”             

 

In Part One of the The First Great Commission in Genesis, I discussed that the Great Commission began with the call of Abraham.  He was commissioned to make God’s name known to all men. In that Journal I proved the Messianic lineage of the seed-bearers (as was promised in Genesis 3:15).  It commenced with God’s choice in selecting Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, and the genealogy that began with Abraham to Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1-17. Three major points were advanced: (1) the Messianic seed-bearers, (2) Abraham grew in his blessing, and (3) the blessing of the world through Abraham.  I talked about point one in Part One. Details of this discussion are in my book,  Growing Missionaries Biblically, click here.  You can get it on Amazon  with a good discount. This week’s Journal will focus on the second point.

 

2.  Abraham grew in his blessing

At the heart of God’s mission is His desire to be known throughout His creation. Abraham was commissioned with this Good News!  To do justice to the above text, let’s examine the five “I will make you” phrases. Two of them, “I will make you a great nation and I will make your name great” are linked to the future aspect at the time of the promise. 

 

The Hebrew word translated as “great” is gadól. It denotes something very big, or that which expands. Also, the verb, ‘sh (to make) has the idea of doing, preparing, manufacturing, putting into effect, etc. The concept of making or re-creating is embedded in this text. The second Hebrew word translated “great” has the same root as gadol but with a slightly different meaning. Note the promise, “I will make your name great.” The Hebrew word for great here is agaddela(h). It is a verb, piel, active, cohortative, common, and is first- person singular. It means growing up as in developmental stages.  This promise was achieved through a growing process.  Abraham grew in his great name and in his walk with God. His call to be a blessing, i.e. to evangelize the world, includes “leaving” his old country behind. This also signifies his spiritual rebirth into a new re-creative era. The new creation typically began with Abraham and shall end with Jesus Christ. The same God, who created this present universe, has begun His work of re-creation; it shall be finalized in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ with a new heaven and a new earth.

Some think that the call of God equals maturity in the faith and ministry.  This is not true. Therefore, we are training men and women in seminaries and are mentoring some by experienced pastors or laymen who are men of God. Abraham, father of the faith, grew in his greatness; he experienced obstacles in his journey just as we do in ours.  In spite of his dark days in his calling, he was faithful.  What God requires is faithfulness to your calling. 

To be continued.

 

 

 

 

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