Worshipping the God of All NationsSample

Day 1–Blessed to Be a Blessing

Begin by prayerfully reading Genesis 12:1-3

Genesis 12 is a key chapter to understanding the overall structure of the Old Testament. Chapters 1 through 11 of the first book of the Bible present God as the God of the whole earth—as the God of all nations. It all begins in Genesis 1 and 2, where God is introduced as the uncreated Creator, who is sovereign over all that he created. The following stories, particularly the accounts of Noah and the Tower of Babel, also highlight God’s dealing with all of humanity. However, in Genesis 12, the narrative moves from the universal to the particular: the focus is now on Abram (later called Abraham) and his descendants. Throughout the rest of Genesis, the focus will be on this particular family, telling the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers. And throughout much of the remaining Old Testament, the story of one particular nation is told, namely the story of the nation of Israel.

However, in God’s plan and providence, this election of one particular individual (Abraham) and one particular nation (the people of Israel) does not place a limit on his redemptive work. On the contrary, God chose Abraham so that through him, God’s blessings would overflow to all people. As it says in the New International Version (NIV), through Abraham, “all peoples on earth” will be blessed (Gen. 12:3), while other translations use the phrase “all the families of the earth” (ESV) or “all the nations” (GNT). Clearly, God’s plan is portrayed here as not being limited to a particular era in history, geographical location, or ethnicity. Rather, there is a radical inclusivity at work, and the scope of God’s purposes indicates that he is indeed the Lord of all creation.

Reflection and Application

• In what ways have you been blessed by God?
• How could you use these blessings to become a blessing for others?