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MISSIONS BEGAN WITH ... ABRAM?

Think..

After reading the given scriptures, take time to consider the follow questions...

What was God’s command to Abram?

What was God’s promise to Abram?

Who would God bless through Abram?

According to Psalm 67, why was God blessing Abram’s descendants?

Often when we think about “missions”, our mind goes first to the Great Commission in Matthew 28 or to the stories of Paul and the early church in Acts. But God’s mission started thousands of years earlier.

Let's take a journey... In Genesis 1 & 2 we read of the good world God created, and in Genesis 3 we read of Adam and Eve’s choices that brought sin into the world. Genesis chapters 4-11 shows the downward spiral of humanity from the perfection of Eden to continual rebellion against God. However, at the end of Genesis 11, we are introduced to Abram. And Genesis 12:1-3 tells us just why God singled out this man and his family...

God called Abram to leave his country and his family and go to the land God would show him. In return for this obedience God promised to bless Abram and his descendants. Why? Was it because God just really liked Abram? Or because God was feeling generous that day? No, God had a specific reason for promising this.

God wanted to bless the whole world through Abram’s family.

In Psalm 67, the psalmist makes a connection between God’s blessings on the nation of Israel and God’s saving power being known throughout the earth. God intended to eventually bless the whole world in the greatest way possible through one of Abram’s descendants – Jesus.

Until that time, Abram’s family was to demonstrate to the world the character of God and draw the nations to Him. They were not blessed just for the sake of being blessed. God wanted to use them to show Himself to the world.

This is true blessing – the very heart of missions.

Apply...

As you reflect on God's desire to show Himself to the world through his children, consider these questions..

How can you be a blessing to someone today?

How can you demonstrate the character of God to someone today?