Genesis 12:1-9 Click here for the readings
The call of Abram (later to ne named Abraham) is an extension of the covenant God made to Noah, part of this RE-creation. Instead of making promises of what God won't do (never destroy the earth through a flood again), God places a covenant promise on Abram (and Sarai):
"I’ll make you a great nation
and bless you.
I’ll make you famous;
you’ll be a blessing.
I’ll bless those who bless you;
those who curse you I’ll curse.
All the families of the Earth
will be blessed through you.”
God blesses Abram (and all of us) in order that others might be blessed through him (and us). More importantly, this blessing comes through covenantal relationship. God's blessing is not the promise of belonging to a land but of relationship....you belong to me! This is the ultimate blessing that is extended to call not just Abram and Sarai but all of us to extend this relationship with others. God's promise of belonging finds its way into our baptismal waters, a recreation of ourselves. In those waters, God calls, claims, gathers and scatters us in blessing not for our own sake but for the sake of the world. And the promise to Abram and Sarai comes complete through our baptism....All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.
The call of Abram (later to ne named Abraham) is an extension of the covenant God made to Noah, part of this RE-creation. Instead of making promises of what God won't do (never destroy the earth through a flood again), God places a covenant promise on Abram (and Sarai):
"I’ll make you a great nation
and bless you.
I’ll make you famous;
you’ll be a blessing.
I’ll bless those who bless you;
those who curse you I’ll curse.
All the families of the Earth
will be blessed through you.”
God blesses Abram (and all of us) in order that others might be blessed through him (and us). More importantly, this blessing comes through covenantal relationship. God's blessing is not the promise of belonging to a land but of relationship....you belong to me! This is the ultimate blessing that is extended to call not just Abram and Sarai but all of us to extend this relationship with others. God's promise of belonging finds its way into our baptismal waters, a recreation of ourselves. In those waters, God calls, claims, gathers and scatters us in blessing not for our own sake but for the sake of the world. And the promise to Abram and Sarai comes complete through our baptism....All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.
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