In Blessing I Will Bless Thee

Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (Genesis 22:15-18).

God gave promises to Abraham which eventually were incorporated into a covenant—a unilateral, unconditional, everlasting covenant. This Abrahamic covenant is the single most important feature in the Old Testament, and governs God’s entire program for Israel and the nations, it’s foundational to all of scripture and to the whole program of redemption. All of this had been realized because in the plan and purpose of God Abraham fully obeyed Him, feared Him, and passed His final test with flying colors.

The promises embodied in the covenant were given in seven stages, each stage building on the preceding promise, and were associated with crucial events in Abraham’s life. These were seven stages of separation, until in the final stage of separation the covenant was declared by the Angel of the Lord in its entirety, concluding with our text, “In blessing I will bless you.”

Steps of Separation:

• Separation from Ur—promises involving Abraham’s name, nation, and blessing. Promises made in Ur. The land was to be shown, Genesis 12:1-3.
• Separation from Terah—The land was promised to his seed, Genesis 12:7.
• Separation from Lot—promise of seed as the dust of the earth. The land was to be given to Abraham’s seed forever, Genesis 13:14-17.
• Separation from worldly rewards—promise of seed from Abraham’s loins. The seed was to be as the stars of heaven, Genesis 15:1-6.
• Separation from God’s fellowship (thirteen years of silence) after Abraham’s carnal effort to produce seed, Ishmael. Promise of father of many nations, kings, everlasting covenant, everlasting possession. Sarah was to give birth to Isaac, Genesis 17:1-8.
• Separation from Ishmael—promise that in Isaac shall his seed be called, Genesis 21:12.
• Separation from Isaac—offering of Isaac. The covenant promises were completed regarding seed, the land and blessing, Genesis 22:15-18.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.