8 December 

Jacob: Genesis 28,35:1-15

As I read these passages, I prayed several times, each time for the Lord to speak- not me.  During one of these prayers – I got my revelation – the blessing that God promised first to Abraham, then Isaac and Jacob – is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the blessing to ALL nations of the earth! Our salvation, especially for us the gentile, is through Christ and that fulfils this promise – ‘God’s promise to bless All nations through His people’. 

Reading Romans chapter 9 in conjunction with these two readings shows that God had a sovereign plan. And that is through His promise to Abraham, now confirmed to Jacob by God Himself in the dream  – first on his way to His mother Rebekah’s family then on the way back, God appeared to Jacob a second time and this time gave Jacob a new name – Israel, confirming God’s promise to Abraham.

God gave Abraham a command and an amazing promise. The command was, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). 

Explaining the promise He would give Abraham in exchange for his obedience, God continued: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (verses 2-3).

These promises were both physical and spiritual in nature. Physically, Abraham’s descendants would become a great nation. The spiritual blessing to all people was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, a descendant of Abraham, through whom people of all nationalities may receive salvation (Acts 4:10-12; Galatians 3:16).
 

Prayer 

Dear Heavenly Father, through these scriptures we read today, we get a glimpse of your sovereign plan to save your people – us – and everyone in the world in all nations, tribes and languages ultimately.  This plan you first gave to your faithful and obedient servant Abraham, then Isaac and Jacob that we read of today.  This plan came true through Christ Jesus our Lord, our salvation.  

We thank you for sending us Jesus and making it ever so easy for us to inherit your Kingdom through our faith in Jesus. 

Lord please help us to remain faithful even so during these difficult times we are living in until we are reunited with you forever. Amen  

 

Anita Thomas

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