Read: Genesis 12:1-3
"I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Genesis 12:3
The day was like any other for Amelia Rose. She worked a full day at the local diner, and had just arrived home to relax for the evening. The only event that made that rainy, cool day unique, is the official-looking letter she received in the mail. The letter was addressed to Amelia from a law firm in New York City. When she read the contents of the letter, her life was forever changed. Unknown to her, she was the great-great-niece to Alister Cavendish. Alister had made a fortune in a successful art gallery in New York. He just passed away, and all his fortune was left to Amelia.
When we think about generational blessing, we usually think about stories like Amelia’s. A wealthy ancestor leaving us a massive inheritance that will impact the lives of our children’s children. When Scripture speaks of a generational blessing, though, it is referencing something far more…eternal.
Genesis 12 denotes a shift in the narrative of Genesis. Starting at chapter 12, the book begins to focus on Abram (who will become Abraham) and his descendants. We read, “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing’” (v.1-2). Here we see God established a covenant with Abram. A covenant is a sacred agreement that is not easily broken–and not intended to ever be broken. With the Abrahamic covenant–as it is known–God tells Abram to go to Canaan, and there Abram will be blessed and “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (v. 3). How can that be? How is the whole earth going to be blessed through Abram?
Abraham is known as the father of the Hebrew nation, the Jewish people. Three major religions believe he was one of the first great prophets of their religion: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. One can easily understand that God blessed Abraham’s descendents by continuing their very lineage to this day, but how is the whole earth going to be blessed through his lineage? The answer is: the whole world is blessed because of Jesus, the Lord and Savior of all who repent and believe.
Jesus, born through the line of Abraham, was sent to fulfill the redemptive plan and bless the whole earth. In Genesis 12:3 we witness a promise that is fulfilled in Jesus. A promise given to Abraham, but not fully realized until the birth of Christ.
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Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for fulfilling that which was promised to Abraham. Thank you for blessing the whole world by offering your life on the cross so that all who repent of their sins and believe in the gospel can be saved.