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The Promised Family: Abraham, the first generation of promise

The Promised Family begins with the calling of Abram in Genesis 12. God promised to birth a nation from one man and introduced his plan of redemption for the entire world through Abram. The call of Abram includes the promise of blessing if he obeys. The blessing promises a plan for redemption for the scattered nations and extends to the whole world.

At this time in human history, tribes were the largest units of social organization. A tribe consisted of clans, which played an intermediate role between the tribe and the nuclear family.

The family was the father’s household, the smallest unit and most important to an individual. God called Abram to cut ties with his family and leave his home in northern Mesopotamia. Abram responded in obedience to God’s command to leave his home country and go to a place God would show him.

God's promises for Abram to obey provided much motivation to follow God’s instructions.

1. The promise of land. God told Abram, “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). All Abram had was a word from the Lord in the form of a command to be obeyed.

2. The promise of a nation. God said, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you” (Gen. 12:2). What seems impossible to Abram is possible with God. The shift to a “great” nation implies land, nationhood, status, stability, government, and territory where this promise will manifest itself.

3. The promise of a great name. God promises Abram, “I will make your name great.” Across generations, Abram's influence has impacted Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as world religions.

4. The promise to be a blessing. Abram will become the embodiment of God's blessing. The impact of the blessing through Abram is not limited to Abram’s own good but extends to other people as well, even those beyond Abram’s family and descendants.

5. The promise of blessing and curse. God told Abram, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” (v.3). This promise is like two sides of the same coin. God's overarching purpose is to bless Abram and bless others through him. The threat of a curse thwarts any effort to undo God’s intention to bless the nations and families of the Earth.

6. The promise to bless the nations. The avalanche of blessings targets the entire Earth and all its people from every tribe, language, and nation. The final portion of the promised blessing to Abram expresses God’s plan for redemption for all humanity.

Abram did as the Lord commanded and set out to Canaan with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot. Lot decided to move near Sodom and Gomorrah while Abram and Sarai settled in Canaan. Lot became a captive of kings and was rescued by Abram. Following this and other challenges, Abram wondered about God’s promises.