Verse by Verse

Hi. I'm Erik Jones, and this is Verse by Verse, a short podcast all about exploring the insights and lessons of the inspired word of God. In 12th chapter of Genesis, we are introduced to an individual who changed history. Though he lived over 39 100 years ago, his life still impacts the world we live in today in multiple ways. Millions of people around the world are his physical descendants, and thousands of people are his spiritual descendants because he's not just the father of many nations but is also considered the father of the faithful, God's faithful people that is.

This man was none other than Abraham. In Genesis chapter 11, we're introduced to Abraham by his birth name, Abram. We're told he came from Ur of the Chaldees in modern day southern Iraq. Then we come to Genesis 12 where we read of God calling Abram for a very special purpose. If Abram would respond to that calling and move himself and his family from the place they grew up and were comfortable in to a new land, an unknown land they had never seen before, God would bless them by making him the father of a great nation of people.

But in order to receive that promise, he had to demonstrate faith. Faith to follow God by journeying to this new land, faith to journey into the unseen. In today's episode, we're going to look at the general promises God committed to giving Abram if he showed faith, not just a faith of belief, but a faith that translates into action, a faith demonstrated by obedience. Let's read those promises in Genesis 12 verses 1 through 3. Now the Lord said to Abram, get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.

Verse 2. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. Verse 3, 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.

So if Abram and his family left their home, again, the only home they had ever knew, a home that had produced great wealth for them, If they left, God would, number 1, make them a great nation, number 2, give that nation wonderful blessings, and number 3, through them, make blessings available to the entire Earth. What an amazing promise. Long story short, Abram did obey in faith, and God fulfilled these promises and is continuing to fulfill them in our world today. In fact, their fulfillment will even extend past this age into the world to come the Bible talks about, the world of tomorrow, the kingdom of God, the age that will come after Jesus Christ returns. Now, how all that happened and will happen is a story far too big for this episode.

That fulfillment began with the establishment of the nation of Israel in biblical times, but even extends beyond biblical times into modern history. It's a fascinating story. It's fascinating history. So fascinating, in fact, that we've written an entire booklet covering it. It's titled The United States, Britain, and the Commonwealth in Prophecy.

You can actually download it for free at the link in the show notes. In that booklet, you'll learn more about the story of how the God of heaven shaped history to fulfill these promises to Abraham. You'll learn how many modern nations have their roots in these promises found in Genesis 12 verses 1 through 3, all because one man believed God, had faith, and acted on that faith.

Verse by Verse is a companion podcast to the daily bible verse blog, which you can find on the Life, Hope, and Truth Learning Center. Check out the show notes for more.