What did God promise to do for Abraham and through him in Genesis 12:2-3?
God promised Abraham: 'I will make of thee a great nation'—the nation of Israel—'I will bless thee,' make his name great, make him a blessing, bless those who bless him, curse those who curse him, and through him bless all families of the earth.
Les teaches that God addressed one man, Abraham, in Genesis 12:2-3. He promised to make Abraham a great nation, identified in the context as Israel; to bless him and make his name great; to make him a blessing; to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him; and to bless all families of the earth through him. Les emphasizes that these promises are earthly, not heavenly: they concern a geographical land and multiplied people, not angels.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
More Questions
What did God mean when He promised Abraham He would make him a great nation?
When God told Abram He would make of him a 'great nation,' He was not speaking in terms of population numbers, military power, and the like — Israel's historical population never even reached about 15 million, fewer than some cities of the world.