WHAT IS THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM?

Many have taught and believed that the blessing of Abraham is material wealth. Some have argued that at least material wealth is part of it. The truth is what does the Bible really teach about this?

We will discover how the Old and New Testament perfectly agree with this teaching. Furthermore, why did God provide material wealth for Abraham? Lastly, how does it apply to New Testament Christians?

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3 ESV 

“The promises made to Abraham, were but the exhibition of the eternal covenant of grace, made between the Father and his Son Christ Jesus who was in it both the Mediator and Surety“ Matthew Poole. 

From eternity past the divine covenant of grace was established, and was inaugurated in Eden. After the fall, the promise of redemption was proclaimed by God.(Genesis 3:15). With great wisdom and care God began to unfold His plan of redemption. After the flood, in the midst of paganism and idolatry God called Abraham.

Abraham was a descendant of Noah through his son Shem (Genesis 11:10-32). God therefore, called Abraham and set him apart for His plan of redemption. He promised to bless Abraham and in this promise it consisted of a great nation, name and a source of blessing (Genesis 12:1-3).

With all those promises God literally kept His word. As a result, God blessed Abraham with material wealth and a good reputation. But why did God blessed Abraham with material wealth?

In the historical narrative of the Patriarch Abraham, it’s important that we understand that the giving of material wealth was specific to Abraham and not to modern Christians.

However, it’s the only promise that was fulfilled in Abraham’s lifetime. He was blessed with wealth and a good reputation. This was possibly a sign to Abraham that what God promised him in the future, will come to pass in his absence.

In addition, God kept His word to bless Abraham for his obedience. Ultimately, the point of the covenant God made with Abraham was not to make him rich but to showcase his glory and brought salvation to many. 

Evidently, the main thrust of the Abrahamic covenant is this "and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. The other promises are directed at Abraham and his natural descendants. For instance, the nation God promised to Abraham was Israel. The Israelites descended from Abraham through Isaac who had Jacob who became Israel. The Abrahamic covenant was reiterated to the other Patriarchs (Isaac and Jacob). As the plan of redemption continued to unfold, other covenants were made to Moses or the Israelites and King David.

Four centuries after Abraham, the first part of the promise God made to him was fulfilled when the Israelites became great in number and a nation. After the Exodus from Egypt they acquired the land that was promised to Abraham.

Importantly, the nation of Israel was set apart to serve the eternal God and be a light to the other nations (Exodus 19:5-6). Judah was appointed the royal tribe and therefore became a dynasty.

David was the eminent king a man after God’s heart. God made a covenant with David promising a special Royal Son who will come to rule and reign forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). This king will be the one who fulfilled the main point of the Abrahamic covenant.

As it states “All nations will be blessed through you”. The point is, the promises made to Abraham was that the blessing of his ‘offspring’ Jesus will bring salvation to the nations of the earth. Both the Old and New Testament agrees what’s the blessing of Abraham is, that it’s the Gospel of Christ (Genesis 12: 3, Galatians 3:8).

New Testament Christians are to look back at the cross but Old Testament saints were looking forward to the cross of Christ. Crucially how does the blessing of Abraham apply to Christians today?

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ” Galatians 3:16 ESV 

Isaac and his descendants are the natural offsprings of Abraham. The true offspring of Abraham is the eternal offspring who is Christ. Through the natural children of Abraham, God made a way for the spiritual children of Abraham to be brought into His family. 

Accordingly, God preached the gospel to Abraham, amazingly Abraham saw the day of Jesus and rejoiced (Galatians 3:8, John 8:56). Both the Old and New Testament comprises of the whole Bible, we can conclude that the blessing of Abraham is spiritual not material (Galatians 3:8-9,14).

However, If the blessing of Abraham was material wealth then we’ve reduced it to earthly and temporal blessings. The Bible strictly warned against the desires of riches and its deception (Matthew 13:22, Matthew 6:24, Luke 12:15, James 1:9-11, 1 Timothy 6:17-19). We should store up treasures in heaven and set our minds on things above (Matthew 6:19-21, Colossians 3:1-2).

RECIPIENTS OF THE GIFT 

so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14 ESV 

The blessing Abraham comes through faith in Christ and he was granted the gift of righteousness. Similarly, its through faith in Christ that both Old and New Testament believers receives this gift. 

Christ is the object of all the promises that points to the plan of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the gift that comes from faith in Christ, who was the fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham. He is the guarantee of our future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). Abraham was truly and eternally blessed when he believed God (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3). If his focus and faith were on material wealth, then Abraham would have never been the Father of many nations (Romans 4:18). 

Faith in Jesus grants a sinner the blessing of Abraham. The righteousness of God in Christ is the blessing that brings sinners into the family of God. Remarkably, the blessing of Abraham are both for Jews and Gentiles ( Galatians 3:28-29). 

Abraham obeyed the voice of God and was blessed (Genesis 22:18). Most importantly, the blessing of Abraham comes from the abundance of God’s grace. Lastly, those of us who are in Christ will enjoy the spiritual blessings Christ secured for us in the heavenly places. The whole scope of our salvation can be enjoyed now and realised in the future (Ephesians 1:3-14).