THE CALL OF ABRAHAM / THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT, GEN. 12:1-3

THE CALL OF ABRAHAM / THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT, GEN. 12:1-3

THE BIBLICAL BASIS OF MISSIONS -- OLD TESTAMENT

            Note: Genesis 1-11 deals with early events with universal significance, that effect the whole world: the creation of the universe; the creation of the first human pair who parented us all; the fall of man into sin, which affects us all; the promise of a way of redemption for all of us; a worldwide flood of judgment; the origins of all races from Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, (Gen. 10, the table of nations, 70 nations represented all the world in OT; Gen. 46:27, 70 moved to Egypt; Ex. 15:27, 12 springs & 70 palm trees).  Psa. 87:4-6, “Register of the peoples”, God keeps tract of & wants to reach all peoples.

            QUESTION: Why does God all of a sudden focus only on one man, Abraham, and his descendants from Genesis 12 on?

            ANSWER: Here we have a limited call (focused on one man) but with a worldwide mission purpose.  God starts His universal mission plan with Abraham!

            God starts dealing with one man and his descendants, Abraham and the Israelites, but with the salvation of the whole world in mind.  God calls Abraham and the Israelites as His special servants and witnesses to Himself, as His OT missionary witnesses to the One True Holy God Jehovah.

            Genesis 12:1-3, The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.  (2) I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

            We can see here some basic fundamental missionary principles and lessons:

1.         Vs. 1, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household.”  LEAVE SIN AND UNGODLY ENVIRONMENT.  (Abraham was world’s first cross-cultural missionary, sent by God).

           

            Abraham’s relatives were still polytheistic and idolatrous, Joshua 24:2.  It was necessary for Abraham to leave this unhealthy environment for some time, until he became stronger and more mature in his new faith.  Often as new converts also need to get out of unhealthy environments for some time, i.e., drugs, alcohol.  (Israel was strategically located on major trade routes, for Israel’s witness to the nations!)

2.         Vs. 1, “go to the land.”  GO WITH THE GOSPEL.

            This involved deliberately going someplace else in obedience to God’s call, mobility, a fundamental for missionaries.  We need to be willing to go to where the need is, to the last lost person at distant places. 

3.         Vs. 1, “I will show you.”  WALK BY FAITH AND OBEY DAILY.

            Abraham was given guidance for only one step at a time; he had to begin walking and obey by faith.  We also as Christians are usually given only one step at a time and need to obey and walk by faith daily.  EX.: a lantern; a cruise missile that can be guided while in flight, not a Scud; a ship needs to move to be steered.

            Vs. 2, “I will make you a great nation (‘goy’) and I will bless you.” 

4.         GOD NEEDS A SERVANT MISSIONARY PEOPLE AND WITNESSES.  God sovereignly elected and called the Israelite people as His servants and witnesses, His ‘OT missionaries’ to the nations.  (Most Christians are stuck here in “I will bless you”, are selfish; 95 % of Chr. books reflect this.)

            Vs. 2, “I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

5.         GOD BLESSES US AND SAVES US, SO WE CAN BLESS OTHERS AND HELP SAVE OTHERS!  God said: “I will bless you so that you can be a blessing to others.”  We as Christians also are blessed, so we will be a blessing, sharing Jesus & our blessings, the gospel, & ministry with others. 

Heb. 6:13-18, God swore an oath “by Himself”(there is no one higher); God wanted to make “the unchanging nature of His purpose” to bless all peoples in Christ, to reach all peoples, very clear.

            The Jewish people have throughout history been a great blessing to mankind, providing a great number of scientists, scholars, etc.  Yet the greatest blessing has been to bring Christ, the Redeemer!

            THREE WAYS THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO ALL THE WORLD:

A.        The Jewish people received and recorded the Old Testament Scriptures, God's revelation of Himself to the world, Heb. 1:1-3; Rom. 15:4.

B.        The Jewish people became the human channel through which Christ came, the Redeemer for all

            people; son of Abraham, Matt. 1:1; son of David, Matt. 1:1; of the tribe of Judah, Gen. 49:10. 

C.        The Jewish people were God's servants, witnesses, missionary people, to make known God’s name & character among the nations, Isa. 43:10; Isa. 44:1-2; Ex. 19:4-6, “priests to the nations”.

            Vs. 3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.”

6.         PEOPLES’ BLESSING & CURSE DEPENDS ON THEIR RESPONSE TO CHRIST.

            Applies to Israel: many nations’ welfare has been dependent upon their treatment of Israel and Jews.

            Applies to Christians: people’s blessing and curse depends on their receptivity and response to Christ and the gospel; Jesus’ witnesses and disciples are simply His messengers.  Luke 10:16.

            Vs. 3, “and all peoples [clans, families] on earth will be blessed through you.”  (Hindi - har jati)

7.         GOD DESIRES THE GOSPEL TO GO TO & SAVE PEOPLE OF ALL PEOPLE GROUPS!

            This is the clearest and earliest OT scripture showing God’s purpose that the gospel of Christ and missions is to go to all people groups!  Jahweh is called “God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob”, why? because He is not only Israel’s God, but “the God who will bless all nations in Christ”, Gen. 12:3.       Gal. 3:8, God in Gen. 12:3 announced “the gospel in advance” to Abraham!

            This promise of having many descendants and being a blessing to all peoples was repeated to Abraham in Gen. 13:16 (“like the dust”), Gen. 15:5 (stars), Gen. 22:18 (stars & sand), and to Isaac in Gen. 26:4 (stars), and to Jacob in Gen. 28:14 (dust).  Stars shine, and dust & sand spread.  Abraham was age 75 when he first received the promise, 86 when Ishmael was born, & 100 at Isaac’s birth, yet believed.

            God Promised Abraham: (1) Descendants; (2) Land; (3) Blessing.

            Fulfillment in PAST: Isaac; the Israelites, Historic Israel.

            Fulfillment in PRESENT: in Christ & the blessing of salvation; Acts 3:25-26; Romans 4:16-18; Gal. 3:6-8; Eph. 3:6.  Believing Jews and Gentiles are the true children of Abraham, are numerous!!!

            Fulfillment in FUTURE: the “uncountable” redeemed in heaven, Rev. 5:9; Rev. 7:9.