The Second Promise

When it comes to God's Promises he only needs to make them once. There should be no doubt in our mind that he will come through. He is not a human that he needs to keep making the promise over and over. In spite of this, God knows mankind. We easily forget God and his promises. It doesn't take long for mankind to forget about God and forsake him to the point where God decides to destroy nearly all of its inhabitants in a flood and start over. It is not long after that when we are introduced to Abram. The Bible doesn't tell us much about the faith of people at this time. However, it seems safe to say that the world had once again strayed from God. Abram's father had various gods. God calls Abram out to be the father of his people. It is to Abram, or Abraham, that we see the second recorded promise of the Savior. This time the promise is more subtle. It can easily be missed. Genesis 12:3 records God telling Abram that through his offspring all nations will be blessed. This is a promise God repeats to Abraham in Genesis 22:18.

How would all nations be blessed? It doesn't seem to make sense at first. Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation. This nation becomes God's select people. It comes off at times as a select club or group with the benefits of having the God of heaven and earth on its side. So how can the offspring of the father of this exclusive nation be a blessing to all nations. The answer is simply found in Jesus. Though Jesus was a Jew and descended from Abraham, he came not only for the Jews but for all people. His perfect life was lived in the place of all sinners. His innocent suffering and death was for all mankind. The salvation and defeat of death that he won was for the whole world. John 3:16 tells us this plainly and simply. God so loved the world. Not a certain group, nation or people. The world. All of it. Every last one of us. His one and only Son was given for the whole world. That is how Abraham's offspring would be a blessing to all nations.

This promise to Abraham may be subtle but it says a lot. It reminds us of the fact that Christ came for all. He came as a blessing to all nations. As we approach Christmas and reflect on God's promises, remember that most important promise was promised to all.