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Hoekstra: God’s Promise to Abraham

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This blog post is based on Bob Hoekstra’s popular devotional Day By Day By Grace. For previous posts in this series, click here.

Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
(Genesis 12:1-3)

These are some of the most strategic promises in the word of God. They are repeated to Abraham (Genesis 13:14-18; 15:5; 17:1-8; 22:17-18). They are confirmed to Isaac (Genesis 26:2-4, 24) and to Jacob (Genesis 28:13-14; 35:9-12). They are woven throughout the Old Testament (Nehemiah 9:7-8; Psalm 105:6-11; Isaiah 51:2). They are elaborated upon in prominent chapters of the New Testament (Romans 4 and 9; Galatians 3 and 4; Hebrews 6, 7, and 11). Ultimately, we will see that these promises are at the root of the new covenant of grace.

These promises to Abraham flow forth one upon another. This is so typical of our God of promises. He does not merely sprinkle His word with a promise here and there. He pours them out like a cascading waterfall. Included within these divine commitments are some of the monumental purposes of God; namely, a Promised Land, the nation of Israel, the Messiah, and worldwide missions.

First, God’s promises included a Promised Land. “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” This new land would be spacious, with bountiful provision: “a good and large land…a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8).

Then, in that land of blessing, God would develop the nation of Israel. “I will make you a great nation.” Eventually, through that nation, Messiah would be birthed, fulfilling the promise to bring God’s blessings to all who would believe. “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” The Lord Jesus would be that specific, individual seed that would offer God’s blessed salvation to all the world. “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).

This promise contained the gospel. “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed'” (Galatians 3:8). The gospel is the good news of God’s saving grace. This good news is for all the world to hear.

Lord God of majestic promises, what a grand plan You have laid out in only a few sentences! Help me to read Your word with alertness regarding Your promises. Please shape my thinking and my expectations by Your mighty promises, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Comments

  1. Justified by Faith!
    Atoned by Blood!
    Blessed By the Promise!
    Covered By Love!
    Given Grace!
    Shown Mercy!
    Eternal Life!

    What a Glorious GOD we have and Oh what Magnificent King!
    Thank you Father for your love and sacrifice for me.

  2. Another Great Article—

    Question–At times why is it so hard to reap a promise at times?

    Or–what keeps us from reaping from God source of supply at times? After all–God’s supply should never run out–like a Hot Water Heater–

    Well for example: Prosperity—What’s the need–a Job–a raise–just more work–many reasons–We know God has it ready for us–so what is hold us back from that PROMISE?

    Isn’t God unlimited in supply? Yes–mmm–well?

    What’s your take? Why do I ask? This is a great article to get us to think about God and His promises–so lets apply this stuff.

    Jim

    • Jimmy, dumbing down the word “prosperity” to apply to life’s basics like a job or raise is not what “prosperity” means. We do not know all that GOD has ready for us… it could be a very unpleasant experience, like washing the feet of the enemy.

      J.

      • Dumbing down the word “prosperity”–Wow–

        Hey I bet someone enjoyed the encouragement–just maybe they need a job, or a raise, obviously you don’t. But your cool, Ya your right “prosperity” can come physically, mentally, spiritually–many ways, absolutely.

        Is there anyone that can use a job out there?

        How about a better relationship with your Heavenly Father?

        The Point I was making, sometimes us brother and sisters are walk with God and just can’t seem to reap the fruit were striving for in a certain catogory–We have to ask the question why not?

        Is it God? Well we know that’s not truth–God’s faithful isn’t He?
        Is it me?
        Is there a certain (weed) I need to pluck out of my life that’s choking the Word I’m applying?

        I’m I cultivating the Word in my heart, or is it just on top of my head— just sitting there doing nothing–but it’s there.

        Some seeds are planted on a rock.

        Some seeds are carried away from birds.

        Some seeds are not watered enough.

        some seeds are choked by (weeds).

        The seed being the “Promise of God”, so to help others see the key to the puzzle (the parable), what seeds are you yearning for and cultivation and ready to harvest the benefits of the Promise of God your working hard for?

        Eradicate those (weeds) and reap what God wants you to read. Why do we put up with the weeds that only choke what were so working hard for? God wants us to have it, so lets figure it out.

        Jerry maybe I should have expounded a little more heart around it all. Your Cool.

        Jim

        • Oswald Chambers writes –

          Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ— “. . . that I may know Him. . .” (Philippians 3:10). To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender— complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.

          My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

          Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?

    • Off Topic
      This verse is an example of bible translation problems.
      The King James Version reads as follows:
      1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no man seek his own but every man anothers –>wealthwell-being.<—

      There is a world of difference between wealth and well being. When read in context and using the (20/20 rule) read 20 verses prior to and 20 verses after to get the proper context I do not think a person's wealth is what this verse is addressing, not wealth ($) as that word is known as today.

      My sense is that given the context this does not refer to wealth/money but I've seen this used by the health & wealth crowd in what I believe is improper manner.

      9 translate it as another's good
      3 translate it as wealth
      1 translates it as advantage

      http://v3.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Cr&c=10&t=NKJV#s=t_bibles_1072024

      • Correction
        The King James Version reads as follows:
        1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no man seek his own but every man anothers –>wealth.<—

  3. Blessed be the Name of the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Rev 22:13.

    You alone are worthy to receive glory, honor and praise. Blessed redeemer, high and Holy one lifted up.

    You alone have the words of life. Jhn 6:68 You alone are worthy to be extolled,magnified and exalted high above every thing that is named. 2Sa 22:4

    Thank you BLB and fellow believers in Christ for this encouraging dialog. Thank you Chris, Steve Morrow and Mark Hayes for your words.

    I see such compromise in the midst and everyone acts as if it’s okay, no problem. I have a different harness upon me. There are many places I can not go, there are many things I can’t do, there are many things I’m not allowed to say. He has called us to righteousness by faith Rom 4:13,Gal 5:5,1Ti 6:11. He has called us to Holiness.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m still striving, I’ve not attained, but I know my course, my eye is on the prize, Its a natural law that you will go where you look.

    Praising Jesus, my redeemer

    Breaux Mann