"I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)

The apostle Paul referred to this event as "the blessing of Abraham" (Galatians 3:14) that has been conferred on the nations through the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ. When that promise was given to Abraham, two major thoughts were clear. First, multitudes of people and many nations would come from Abraham. And second, a special "seed" would come through Abraham (Galatians 3:16) who would make possible the blessing of all men.

Later, when God revealed to Abraham that his "seed" would be as innumerable as the sand of the seashore and the stars of heaven (Genesis 13:16; 15:5), he "believed God" (Romans 4:3), even though there was no evidence that these promises would come to pass. Today, with the multiple millions of descendants of Ishmael and the growth of the nation of Israel, the "many nations" are easy to see.

What is still somewhat difficult to grasp are the uncounted millions of "they which are of faith" who are "Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:7, 29). That is the main fulfillment of God’s "blessing of Abraham." We who believe God as Abraham did "have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand" (Romans 5:2) and will "receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15).

That promised inheritance is "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:4-5). May these "great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4) be a constant encouragement in our lives. HMM III