Date: 1921 BC – Year: 2083 – Ref: Gen 12:1-3; 13:16;
“1 ¶ now the LORD said to Abram, “go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; 2 and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; 3 and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”” (Ge 12:1-3 NAS95)
God’s promise to Abraham included 3 aspects: (1) land, (2) nation, and (3) blessing. At the time, the first two applied primarily to the future nation of Israel and its borders. The third extended beyond Israel’s borders, providing benefits to “all the families of the earth.” (Gen 21:3) through Abraham’s “Seed” – the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.” (Gal 3:16 NAS95)
God had also promised to Abraham a multi-generational fruitfulness that would carry on throughout all of history.
“I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered.” (Gen 13:16)
At the heart of these three promises is fruitfulness. In a very practical way, the population increase is the driving force which enables Israel’s future greatness. It enables the land of Canaan to be subdued; it enables Israel to establish itself as a great nation; it enables him, through his offspring, to be a blessing to the nations through the ages.