By Randall L. Broad
Read:
Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-27
The
day after Jesus declares the Kingdom of Heaven to be “near” we read about two
significant events in the kingdom story.
In
Matthew chapter five, known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares the values
and practices of every true disciple in the Kingdom. It is a New Testament
chapter worth time and study, but for this year the commentary will focus on
the other significant event. Chapter twelve is significant to both the
narrative of the book of Genesis and the relationship between man and God. The
first eleven chapters (vv. 1:1-11:32) of Genesis record primeval events
including: the creation (vv. 1:1-2:25), man’s fall (vv. 3:1-6:10), the flood
(vv. 6:11-8:19), and the new beginning for humanity (vv. 8:20-11:32). In
chapter twelve the narrative changes from one where God relates to all of
humanity in a general sense to a history through which the restoration of the
union lost in the garden will come through a specific family and a special
people (vv. 12:1-50:26).
Today
we begin the story of Abram who is instructed by God to depart his home in Harran
and go to the land of Canaan (vv. 12:1).
Where:
2And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will
curse.
And in you all the families of the
earth will be blessed.”
Genesis 12:2-3
From
chapter 12 on the Book of Genesis tells the story of Abraham and his
descendants often known as the Patriarchal Histories (vv. 12:1-50:26). These
narratives record the founding of the Hebrew Nation and include the lives of
Abraham (vv. 12:1-25:18), Isaac and Jacob (vv. 25:19-36:43), and Joseph (vv.
37:1-50:26). Paul Enns writes everything begins with “Abraham, through whom He
will call out a special people. Through these people God will bless the nations
of the earth. The descendants of Abraham will be the mediators of God’s will on
earth, and it is through these people, Israel, that Messiah will come and
establish His kingdom.”[1]
In the days ahead we will see by walking faithfully, Abram will become Abraham
(Genesis 17:3) the Father of the people which through generations of trials and
triumphs will prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. Abraham’s is the
first of many lives which will make possible the coming of the Word and the
revelation of God’s grace which is the ultimate
blessing.
In the
reading today we catch the first glimpses of God’s plan to redeem what was lost
in the garden. In chapter twelve God promises Abram land, descendants, and that
“in you all the families of the earth
will be blessed”. He is warned the fulfillment of God’s promises will not
come easily. It will be a long road and there will be trials for his
descendants. Abraham foresees the coming bondage in Egypt (vv. 15:12-14) and many
generations will pass before the promises come to fulfilment–as humanity has
still not received the ultimate blessing. The promise of land is found in 12:1
and Genesis 13:14-18. Scholars do not always agree whether the kingdom is an earthly
or heavenly place, but in the Book of Genesis it has defined earthly boundaries
(vv. 15:18-21). Many believe this to be proof of an earthly kingdom intended
for God’s chosen people, but it is through the promise of his descendants (vv.
12:2; 17:6) the heavenly kingdom will come to pass. This line of descendants
passes through Judah and David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) to Jesus.
For
New Testament believers the blessing
(v. 12:3) is the ultimate promise God
makes in Genesis chapter twelve because it demands a future Messiah and a heavenly
kingdom that will bless all the families
of the earth. It is this blessing–the reign of the Messiah-that will bring
the Abrahamic Covenant to fulfillment and establish the Kingdom of Heaven. It
begins with Abraham but there are two other elements which concern the
fulfillment of this promise: sin and the penultimate[2],
the events of the last days. First, in the Old Testament the forgiveness of sin
is crucial to the establishment of the Kingdom of God–Jeremiah (vv. 31:31-34)
anticipates the New Covenant and the forgiveness of sin which will be
accomplished by the cross. Secondly, preparation for the ultimate requires the
fulfillment of the prophecies of the “last days” which begins with the birth,
death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words the building of the
church through the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) must come to pass before
the ultimate blessing promised in Genesis chapter twelve can be fulfilled.
Everything
begins with Abram.
Walk
with the Lord …
Ephesians
1:17
(RLB250105)
©
Copyright 2017: Randall L. Broad
Disclaimer: This commentary is written by Randall L. Broad. It is in no way affiliated with or represents any denomination, university, church, or pastor. Any errors or omissions are purely my responsibility.
