Here’s what I love about a heist movie. Yes, you have the pay off. So what? And sure, you have the actual heist. Big deal! And most of the time, you have some cause that motivates the whole adventure. Fine and dandy. But what you need is a great plan that requires thought and training to execute it because one false step and everything comes crashing down. In this case, you’re going to need cars and a map of the sewers and something has to be done about those traffic lights. And of course, you’re going to need a “drop zone” to get into the sewers. Show me the plan. Let’s practice the plan; and then, let’s work the plan. The result is that you have a heist movie that will steal my heart. And that is why I love Genesis 12. We’ve got a problem. We’ve got a plan, and we have a pay off. But here’s the best part: the plan has a name . . . Abraham.
We are looking at Christopher J.H. Wright’s short introduction to the Old Testament, The Old Testament in Seven Sentences (IVP Academic, Downers Grove, IL, 2019). It’s a fun little book, and I love the challenge of summarizing the whole Old Testament in seven verses. Even if it was picking out the seven most important verses of the Old Testament, I would be fully engaged with this project.
We’ve already chosen one of our seven verses, and it turned out it was a verse about creation. In fact, Wright chose the very first verse in the Bible (Genesis 1:1). And now we are ready to choose the next six. But be aware, choosing the first verse was easy; the rest are hard. Well, hard, but not impossible. After all, it’s the Old Testament. You need to devote one verse to Abraham. And don’t misread things here. Abraham is not the man with the plan. Abraham is the plan.
The Second Verse: Genesis 12:3–“All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Let’s get a quick feel for Wright’s chapter by looking at the top three quotes.
“‘All peoples on earth will be blessed through you’ (Genesis 12:3). This is the bottom line, not only in the sense that it is the conclusion and climax of the whole speech, but also as the purpose and goal of all that has gone before. God is speaking to Abraham, but God’s eyes are on the rest of the world. God is promising to make one great nation out of Abraham’s descendants, but his ultimate purpose is to bring blessings to all the earth. This verse is very particular (‘through you’), but its goal is dramatically universal (‘all people on earth’).” (p. 43)
“In fact, what we have here in Genesis 12:1-3 is the launch of God’s redemptive mission. This is the opening act of God’s great mission to restore what humanity seemed intent on wrecking and to save humanity itself from the consequences of our own wicked folly. In other words, this is the start of salvation history. But it is expressed in terms of blessing.” (p. 43)
“This makes two things clear. First, the election of Israel was not a rejection of all the other nations but precisely for their benefit. We should not think of our doctrine of election as only about who gets to be saved. The first time we see it clearly in the Bible–in God’s election of Abraham–it is in the context of God’s mission. God’s plan is to bless all nations; God’s means is to use this particular nation. Being a chosen people is not an exclusive privilege; it is, rather, a massive responsibility. Second, that responsibility is ethical. God wants Israel to be a people who will live distinctively from the surrounding nations; a people who will do righteousness and justice, not cruelty and oppression.” (pp. 46-47)
Three Reasons Why I Like Genesis 12:3 as One of the Top Seven Verses
A Good Reason: Because Abraham is at the heart of the Old Testament (and he also visits the New Testament frequently, as well). And proving that is easy to do. For one thing, Abraham turns the whole story of the Old Testament (and the story of humanity) in a new redemptive direction. For another, according to Paul (Galatians 3) and according to Genesis (chapter 15), Abraham is the model for faith. See, while Moses can be forcibly shoved (completely against his will, mind you) into a salvation by works hole, Abraham can’t because Abraham is the man of faith. Paul makes that point very clear (Gal. 3:9): “So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Let me just add one more piece of evidence. Abraham’s name shows up throughout the whole Bible and shows up often. In fact, his name shows up 294 times (57 of those times being “Abram”). Interestingly, 67 of those times are in the New Testament. The only names that appear more often in the Bible are “Jesus” (roughly 1300 times), “David” (971 times), “Moses” (803 times), “Jacob” (363 times), “Aaron” (342 times), and “Saul” (298 times, mostly negative). Bottom line: If you are reading the Old Testament, you can’t get around Abraham.
A Better Reason: Because Abraham is our spiritual father. We used to sing in Sunday School: “Father Abraham had many sons; many sons had Father Abraham. And you and I are one of them, so let’s just praise the Lord.” Not quite a classic, but it is absolutely theologically sound. How so? Because Paul in Romans 4:16-17 says so. He writes:
“Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”
I like stories about my progenitors. I like to know about my family. I like to have a sense of my identity. Abraham is our father. You bet I am going to pull for this verse being included in my seven.
The Best Reason: Because Abraham is the plan to bring redemption of the world. After nine very devastating chapters that describe how the world went from good to bad to worse, to worst to abominable, to needing to be scattered once again (first, Cain and now everyone), God announces that he is going to put everything back to rights once more. God has a plan to heal the world by removing our sin, restoring our dignity, rejuvenating our hope, and reviving our souls. And this plan has a name: “Abraham.” God calls Abraham and gives him an unconditional, world-changing promise. God says in Genesis 12 (2-3):
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
God chooses Abraham, not only to bless him, but to bless the whole world. As such, Abraham’s descendants are given this same calling. Everywhere they go, they are to bring God’s blessing to their world. They are blessed to be a blessing. Abraham and his descendants have been given the mission: To proclaim God’s goodness, love, beauty, wisdom and grace through their words, deeds, and interactions with others so that everyone they encounter will want to know more about their God. And there it is. The plan depends, not so much on what they do or how they do certain things. The whole plan rests on who they are–on what type of people they are. And when you have reached the end of the Old Testament, you ought to be able to answer the questions easily: Were they a blessing to the nations? And did they draw people to God? I think the Sermon on the Mount tells us they failed.
Why I’m Not Wild About Genesis 12:3’s Inclusion as One of the Seven Verses
If you asked the New Testament authors which of all the verses in the Old Testament about Abraham was their particular favorite, you would soon be embroiled in a great theological debate.
Many would suggest Genesis 15:6. After all, it is a very popular verse in the faith vs. works debate. It says: “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Paul uses it in Galatians 3:6 and Romans 4:3, and James quotes it in James 2:23. Are we saved by faith or works? Abraham tells us that we are saved by faith alone through grace alone.
Others would prefer that our second verse be Genesis 22:18 because it focuses on the offspring promise which is, in reality, the promise of the coming of the Messiah: Jesus. God says to Abraham: “And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” It shows up in Acts 3:25 and in Galatians 3:8. Matthew understood it this way. That is why he begins the genealogy of Jesus, not with Adam, but with Abraham.
But most people believe that you can’t do any better than Genesis 12:3 with its great missionary focus: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” True, it is only found in Galatians 3:8 and 3:14, but it is the plotline for the whole Old Testament. Israel is sent out into the world to be a blessing. And while Israel fails terribly in her mission, Jesus comes and rectifies that situation and sends out the new Israel of God into the world to be a blessing (the Great Commission and the promise to Abraham are very closely related). The plan now is that Abraham’s descendents by faith are to enter into their world and be a blessing in Jesus’ name because Jesus is the true fulfillment of God’s gracious promise to Abraham.
Who knew God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 would be a plan for the redemption of the world? The fact that it is makes Genesis 12:3 one of the seven essential verses in our list.
What do you think? Which is more important? Genesis 12:3 (all nations) or Genesis 15:6 (faith not works)? You have to pick one! What will it be?
