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In Your Seed All the Families of the Earth Will Be Blessed

Wayne Galloway
12/03/23 - Sunday Evening Worship

In Your Seed all the Families of the Earth Will Be Blessed

Gen. 12:3

 

Introduction:

 

1.  Previously we have learned that God promised Abraham the land of Canaan.  Additionally, he would become the father of a multitude of nations (Gen. 17:5).

2.  This phrase that he would become “the father of a multitude of nations” enlarges the idea of Gen. 12:2 that God would make a great nation of him.  Usually when we think of the great nation we think of the Israelites.  But Gen. 17:5 stretches that to “the father of a multitude of nations.”

3.  God is going to give a land to the descendants of Abraham to preserve His people and provide them life.  Additionally, God is going to multiply the descendants of Abraham in ways that are going to stretch our imagination.  Not only will God give Abraham physical/genetic descendants, the father of a multitude of nations in that sense, but God will give Abraham spiritual descendants also.  And so, Abraham is going to be a blessing to all humanity as God restores the creation that has been wrecked by sin.

4.  Our focus in this lesson is on Gen. 12:3.  “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Gen. 22:18 expresses it a little differently:  “In your seed (“zera,” meaning sowing, seed, descendants, offspring, children, and posterity, The Complete Word Study Dictionary:  Old Testament) all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.”

5.  How is Abraham going to become a blessing to all the families of the earth?  How is he going to become the father of a multitude of nations?  What does this even mean?

 

Discussion:

 

I.  Before we address these questions there is an event in Gen. 22 that needs our attention as background to Abraham becoming a father of a multitude of nations.

 

    A.  We have already noted that Isaac was born under unusual circumstances.  

          1.  Abraham was 100 years old, Sarah was 90.  As good as dead as far as bearing children

               was concerned.  But God operated to give life.

          2.  So now there is a descendant from whom a nation could be produced.

   B.  But then in Gen. 22 God calls on Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering.

         1.  How can the promise be fulfilled if Isaac is dead?

         2.  But without hesitation it would seem Abraham proceeds to Mount Moriah, with wood, 

              fire, and knife in hand.  Isaac observes that everything is prepared except for the 

              sacrifice.  Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood, and bound Isaac and laid him on 

              the altar and stretched out his hand to slay him.

         3.  You know the story.  God stopped him and provided a ram for the offering.  Abraham 

              named the place “The Lord Will Provide.”

    C.  God reiterated His promise.  “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld

          your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the 

          stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall

             possess the gate of their enemies.  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be 

             blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (Gen. 22:16-18).

        D.  So, with this “little glitch” in the story we are back on track with God fulfilling His 

              promise.  For a moment there we were wondering . . .  Abraham not so much.  Heb. 

              11:19 says, “He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead.”

 

       How is Abraham going to become a blessing to all the families of the earth?  How is he

       going to become the father of a multitude of nations?  What does this even mean?

 

II.  Abraham becomes the father of the Israelites.

 

     A.  Even a casual reading of Genesis and Exodus reveals that Abraham became the father of 

           the Israelites.

           1.  The genealogical records of Genesis and Exodus make this clear.

           2.  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) and the 12 sons.  

           3.  The book of Exodus opens with a statement to this effect (1:1-7).

      B.  Through famine and slavery, they become a nation.

      C.  After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years because of their unbelief, Joshua took the 

           nation into the promised land.  In Joshua 24 he reminded the people of God’s fulfillment 

           of His promises of nation and land (1-13).  21:45 says, “Not one of the good promises

           which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.”

      D.  He is the father of the Israelites and that might satisfy Gen. 12:2, but what about Gen. 

            17:5 where it says he would become the father of a multitude of nations?

 

III.  Abraham the father of a multitude of nations as revealed in Isaiah’s prophesies.

 

      A.  Isaiah predicted a kingdom that would include all nations (2:2-3).

            1.  It had always been that people from foreign nations could become Jews with 

                 circumcision and observance of the Law of Moses (e.g., Rahab, Ruth, Uriah the 

                 Hittite).  But this passage implies something more far reaching.

            2.  “Nations will stream to it.”

      B.  Isa. 42:6-7.  Interestingly, Paul quotes this in Acts 13:47 at Pisidian Antioch when he turns

           to preaching to the Gentiles.

      C.  Isa. 45:20-25 former idolaters are seen as “the offspring of Israel” who will be justified

            and glory in the Lord.

      D.  Isa. 49:6 makes it even more explicit.  God’s servant will raise up the tribes of Jacob, but 

            also be a “light to the nations so that My salvation may reach the end of the earth.”  

            Note verse 12.  Cf. Acts 13:47.

       E.  Isa. 9:1-2 had spoken of a great light coming to “Galilee of the Gentiles.”  Matthew 

            interprets this of Jesus (4:12-17).  It is interesting to observe that Matthew has magi

            from the east at Jesus’ birth (2:1).  He records Jesus healing a centurian’s servant and 

            records Jesus saying, “I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.  Many will 

            come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in 

            the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out” (8:10-12).  

             Matthew has Jesus healing the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter (15:21ff).  Matthew 

             concludes his gospel with Jesus telling the disciples to go and make disciples of “all the 

             nations” (28:19).

 

IV.  We know about the events of Peter’s vision and his taking the gospel to the Gentiles of Cornelius’ household.  We know about Paul and Barnabas taking the gospel to Gentiles.  We know about the meeting in Jerusalem where James said, “With these words the Prophets agree, just as it is written, AFTER THESE THINGS I WILL RETURN, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO” (Acts 15:15-18).

 

V.  But it is perhaps Paul in Romans and Galatians that is the champion in connecting the promises to Abraham with Christ and the inclusion of the nations.

 

     A.  In Rom. 4 he cites Abraham’s faith as credited as righteousness.  Then he asks, “Is the 

           blessing on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also.  Read 4:9-17.  Note verses 17-

           18 that quote Gen. 17:5.  Abraham’s descendants here include uncircumcised Gentiles.

     B.  In Gal. 3:6ff Paul reasons that it is those of faith who are “sons of Abraham.”  He quotes

          Gen. 12:3 saying that the Scripture said this foreseeing that God would justify Gentiles by 

          faith. 

          1.  He proceeds to reason from the word “seed” as used in Gen. 22:18 to identify Christ as 

                the seed of Abraham through whom all the promises were fulfilled.

           2.  In Gal. 3:26-29 he identifies as “sons of God” and “Abraham’s descendants” those who 

                are justified by faith.

 

Conclusion:

 

1.  So, what does it mean that Abraham would become the father of a multitude of nations?

2.  He became the genetic forefather of the Israelite nation.  But that is only one nation.  It can hardly be said that he was the father of a multitude of nations by being the father of Israel.

3.  Through the Israelite nation was born the Christ.  Descended from Abraham, he was the seed through whom God would bless all nations.

4.  Through what He has done on the cross sin is paid for.  All those who believe in what God has done are descendants of Abraham, the man of faith, who trusted God’s power to raise the dead.

5.  But Isaiah (53) raised the question, “Who has believed our message?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

6.  Do you see the arm of the Lord (power of God) revealed in what He has done?  Are you willing to place your trust in Him?  If so, you can become one of Abraham’s descendants.  You can receive the blessing prepared for all nations, the blessing of forgiveness and restoration through Jesus Christ.