Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

12:l-20 GENES IS
and are still the means of the prosperity or protection of
nations (ha. 6:13, 10:24-25, Matt. 24:22). But it is
properly in his seed (Christ) that men are blessed. ’ Multi-
tudes of nations receive much outward happiness, and the
dispensation of gospel ordinances, in consequence of his
undertaking for his people (Matt. 24:24, Isa., chs. 35, 49,
50, also 6:13). And believers, gathered out of all nations,
are blessed in him with temporal, spiritual and eternal bless-
ings (Gal, 3:16, Acts 3:25-26, Eph. 1:3, Psa. 72:17-19,
Isa. 45:17-25). It is easy to see, that the subsequent
promises and threatenings, nay, the doctrines and laws,
mentioned in Scripture, are but an enlarged exposition of
these two verses; and the whole fate of the Jewish and
gospel church, nay, of the saints in heaven and the lost
in hell, are but one continued fulfillment thereof. Verse 3
-The command given to Abraham involved great personal
sacrifices-country, kindred, and home; and also great
faith-he knew not where he was going. But the blessing
promised was most cheering and comprehensive. It ern-
braced himself, all who favored and honored him, the
whole nation that was to spring from him, and all the
families of the earth. Abraham by faith saw in this last
promise the most glotious and blessed of all truths-the
atoning work of the Messiah (Acts 3:21i, Gal. 3:8). (See
SIBG, p. 230). Note that in calling the fleshly seed of
Abram, God did not abandon the other “families of the
earth,” but ‘was in fact making provision for their future
spiritual welfare also. ’
Murphy (MG, 263) : “In all God’s teachings the near
and the sensible come before the far and the conceivable,
the ‘present and the earthly before the eternal and the
heavenly. Thus Abram’s immediate acts of self -denial
are his leaving his country, his birthplace, his home. The
promise to him is to be made a great nation, be blessed,
and have a great name in the new land which the Lord
would show him. This is unspeakably enhanced by his
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