Blessed Through Abraham
God’s desire has always been to bless the nations of the earth. He revealed a little of His plan to Abraham around 4,000 years ago. God told Abraham He would use his family to be the instrument through which this blessing would come (Genesis 12:2).
Abraham’s family became the nation of Israel but they seem to have rarely understood their calling. God reminded them through the prophets that they were called to touch the nations. ‘I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth”’ (Isaiah 49:6).
The apostle Paul understood Israel’s destiny. Israel was to be like the mother who in God’s time would birth the Messiah into the world. God had chosen Abraham’s family to not only reveal His ways to the world (Deuteronomy 4:5,6,8) but through this nation would come forth the world’s Saviour (Galatians 3:16). Blessing would come to the nations through this long awaited and much heralded Messiah.
Peter understood Israel’s destiny. Preaching at the temple gate after the healing of the lame beggar, he reminded his listeners ‘(God) said to Abraham ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant (Jesus) he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways’ (Acts 3:25,26).
Jesus was born a Jew, a member of Abraham’s family, fulfilling the next momentous step in God’s plan to bless the nations. How did Israel react? We will see next time.
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