“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:93
When God called Abraham to leave the land of his birth, his family, and the idolatrous practices of those who did not have true faith, He did so to make of him a “father of nations,” but also, an example and picture of what it means to have true faith in the true and living God. One thing that was so very remarkable in Abraham’s calling was God’s objective, and the promises of God that contributed to the realization of that objective. God chose Abraham, and his wife Sarah, to bless them, so that the whole world would be blessed “in him.” God’s perspective and blessing was upon one man, chosen specifically by God, to bless all men. God was looking down the corridor of time to the multitudes that would need salvation, recociliation with God, the forgiveness of sins, and the blessing of a new life by the Spirit in Christ. It is by the advent of the solitary life of Christ, and His finished work on Calvary, that the blessing of Abraham would come fully upon all men. Scripture declares to us that,”God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,”…to save all that would believe in Him. We discover in Scripture the fact that Christ tasted death for ALL men, and that He was wounded for the transgressions of all men, for it is not His will that any should perish. So, the singular calling of Abraham, and the promised blessing of God upon him, teaching him the ways of faith, was essential for the realization of the ultimate blessing of all men in and through Christ. Will all men believe in this blessing, and will they seek God concerning the realization of it in their lives, and in the lives of their families?
In Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus, he spoke of “…the whole family in heaven, and earth.” (3:15) He is certainly referring to that family of God, part of which was in heaven, and the remainder which was on the earth at that time, and now. He makes a difference between “all families,” and a certain blessing upon all, and the specific blessing upon the family of God, those who have responded to Christ’s call, trusting Him alone to save them. The blessing upon all men is that revelation of God, of Himself, to the hearts and minds of all men, that they should respond to the overtures of His Spirit to be saved by repenting of their sins, and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are Christ’s, even though their understanding of what this means is limited, have become the declared beneficiaries, not only of that which is of heaven, but more importantly, all that is IN Christ. Paul wrote specifically: “…all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (1:3) The blessing of God through Abraham was universal, in that Christ came in love to save all men from sin. The specific blessing IN Christ for the believer, was personal, individual, and complete. The magnitude of this blessing is as great as the declaration of God concerning it, and the power of God working to bring it to pass in the life and experience of the believer. For example, Paul would write: “For me to live is Christ; and to die is gain.” He also would write, “…I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Paul had come to discover, and to grasp, that as a child of God, God in Christ had blessed him, and all believers, fully. There was nothing lacking, indeed, he was “complete.” It was this message of fullness, completeness, and victory, that Paul sought to communicate to all believers. The blessing of Abraham, according to the promise of God, extended to all men. The blessing in Christ, the magnitude of which is as great as Christ Himself, extends to all believers. Who will trust Him?
Dear Father, Fill us with Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.