Blessed To Be
A Blessing
Now Think On
This
by Steve
Martin
“The Lord had said to
Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's
family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great
nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to
others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with
contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis
12:1-3 Holy Bible, New Living Translation
Abram, whom later the Lord changed his name to Abraham (see added note below), was a blessed
man. When he was called, he heard and obeyed. He left his known surroundings,
his extended family, his father’s relatives, and began the journey.
Did he know where he was going? No. Had he done this
before? I don’t think so. But I do believe the Lord had asked him to do smaller
acts of obedience prior to this time, to build his faith up for this, one of “the
big ones”. (Later, when asked to sacrifice, literally kill his only son Isaac,
his faith had by that time grown even more, for that level of commanded
obedience.) That is usually how the Lord works, even in our lives today. For He
is the same – yesterday, today and forever.
Was Abram a great man before he was chosen? We are not told
that he was. But based on the examples of other men and women, chosen by God over
the centuries to fulfill a great purpose of our God - most likely he was not.
He was probably just an “average Joe”, living and trying to be faithful daily to
his wife Sarai (later Sarah) and his children in their provision and care.
The Lord chose this man Abram to be blessed, so Abram in
turn would be a blessing. It was not solely for Abram’s own present and eternal
joy and happiness alone, nor just for his family, but primarily so that all the
families on the earth, throughout the centuries, would be blessed. The goal was
to have him blessed, so he would be a blessing. That is God’s purpose in our
lives today too.
History proves over and over again that the descendants of
the Father of Faith, as Abraham is now known, have certainly blessed the
nations. The Jews have given the world untold new inventions, technology,
cultural and societal foundations, while continuing life even when being
surrounded by all seeking to destroy them.
“Abraham believed this,
and because he believed, he was blessed. All people who believe are blessed the
same as Abraham was.” Galatians 3:9 (Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version)
As fellow believers in
the One True God, the God of Israel, Who is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Yeshua
HaMashiach, we are called to walk in obedience as Abraham did. We too have been
chosen by God, not because of our greatness or accomplishments, or because we
were born in this country, to this family, with this education, etc., but
because the Lord’s heart wants to bless, and use us to do so.
God our Father wants to
bless the nations, His creation, for eternal enjoyment with Him. Having a true
Father’s heart, we have been chosen to receive His blessings, so we in turn can
bless those we are among, and those we are going to, all the while extending
His Kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.
“Give us this day our
daily bread” - part of the Lord’s prayer Himself while walking the streets of
Jerusalem, and training men and women to be His disciples - is included in His
priestly prayer. Receiving daily gifts in order to sustain life, to give out of
that which we have received, continues to be His heart. His children, His
disciples, receiving from His heart, to give to others who will then come to
know of His love.
In your seeking His daily
path today, be aware of that placed within you, given to share with those He
brings you in contact with. Seek to be a blessing, as you have been blessed. In
this way the nations of the world will be blessed too.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.
Note: Abraham was originally named by his father as אברם (Abram) and later changed to אברהם by God. As every Hebrew name has a meaning, always related to the
character of the person, it is important to know what their names mean. In the
case of Ya'acov (Jacob - he grabs the heel) it was changed by God to yisrael
(Israel - turns the head of God). As there was a change in character,
there is also a change in the name.
While many suggest that Abram means
"exalted father" and Abraham means "father of a multitude",
both names in fact mean exactly the same thing "father lifted up" or
"exalted father". The beginning of both names is אב (AB)
meaning "father". The "ram" in Abram is דם meaning
"lifted", a parent root. The "raham" in Abraham is רהם also
means "lifted", a child root derived from the parent root Mr.
It does not make much sense to change a name if the new name means the same thing. This is why many attempt to make a change in meaning. But, to understand the real meaning behind a name change is important for understanding why God changed his name and the names of others such as Jacob to Israel.
In Genesis chapters one and two we have the naming of all of creation. We find that Adam named Eve, his children and all of the animals, while God named the light, darkness, sky and land. From this we find something very interesting. Adam had authority over his wife, children and the animals, while God has authority over the light, darkness, sky and land.
If you have authority over something, you have
the right and responsibility to name it. Abram was named by his father Terah,
the one who had authority over him. But, when Abram left his father's house and
headed out on his own, God, who respected the authority of Terah previously,
now takes the role of his authority and changes his name indicating a change in
authority, not necessarily a change in character.
(Source: Jeff A. Benner,
www.ancient-hebrew.org/emagazine)
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Now Think On This #136 “Blessed To Be A Blessing” by Steve Martin
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (03.31.14) Monday at 5:30
am in Charlotte, NC.
All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on
this Blog, and on our newest website: Now Think On This
