Abraham and the Blessings of God

Genesis 12:1-5, NIV
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "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.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.
5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.


Introduction: Many theologians and pastors criticize us for praying for blessings, which they say is shamanistic faith. However, all the great figures in the Bible prayed to God for blessings. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and Solomon received blessings for which they prayed. Seeking to obtain blessing itself is not wrong. It is wrong only when we seek blessings with the wrong motives. If you pray to God for blessings in order to serve Him better and to share your love and happiness with the poor and oppressed, then you will surely be blessed.

1. Adam lost blessings.
1) Adam was born in Eden where abundant blessings were present.
2) Adam was tempted by Satan and challenged God's absolute sovereignty in order to become like God (Ge 3:4-5; Jas 1:15).
3) Adam was cast out from God's sovereignty and was punished with the curse and death
(Ge 3:17).

2. Human civilization lost blessings.
(Ge 11:3-9).
1) The descendants of Noah challenged God's sovereignty at a plain in Shinar where they built the Tower of Babel.
2) Let us build a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth (Isa 14:13-14).
3) Modern human civilization turned against God's sovereignty and caused disaster (Jer 2:13;
Pr 16:18).

3. God promised blessings.
(Ge 12:1-3).
1) God chose and called Abraham through His sovereignty (Heb 11:8).
2) Blessings of God.
① I will make you into a great nation.
② Give you the land of Canaan.
③ Promised blessing of prosperity.

4. Curses come if we disobey, and blessings come if we obey.
1) We should not turn our back on God (Dt 11:26-28; 2Th 1:8-9).
2) Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Ps 33:12; Jn 15:7).

Conclusion: The one who has the faith of Abraham will be blessed with the blessings of Abraham (Gal 3:9).