"Listen to the solemn vow the Eternal One has spoken: “Because you (Abraham) have done what I asked and were willing to give up your son, your only son, I will reaffirm My covenant of blessing to you and your family. I will make sure your descendants are as many as the stars of the heavens and the grains of sand on the shores. I reaffirm My earlier promises that your descendants will possess the lands and sit in the gates of their enemies, and from your descendants all the peoples of the earth will discover true blessing. All this is because you have obeyed My voice." Genesis 22:16-18 (emphasis mine)
Who are the descendants of Abraham? Israel, for sure. They are the direct physical descendants of Abraham. But believers in Jesus Christ are also descendants--spiritual/faith descendants. We've been grafted in to the family tree! (Romans 4-11) So the eternal promise made to Abraham is also our promise. What is that promise?
- We will be many.
- We will possess the lands.
- We will sit in the gates of our enemies. (where legal and binding decisions are made)
- The earth will discover true blessing because of us.
Claim your inheritance! Abraham lived by faith. This promise was made because of his faith. We need to believe these things are ours--by faith. There are lands to possess and rule over. In Genesis 17, where God originally makes the promise, Abraham is told that nations and kings would descend from him...and they have...and will. He's also told his descendants would be fruitful. We will make legal and binding decisions in enemy territory. There is a whole earth which needs to discover true blessing because of us.
Abraham's part of the agreement was that he and his descendants must keep God's covenant throughout the generations--and He promised to be our God forever.
That's a pretty sweet deal!
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