EYES on the NATIONS: A 5-Day Journey Exploring God’s Unchanging Heart for the NationsSample

Blessed to Bless the Nations

If you start reading the Bible in Genesis 1, by the time you get to chapter 11, some “big picture” aspects of our Story have become abundantly clear. God designed a beautiful and amazing world, and then he created human beings to participate with him in governing and tending that good creation. That original design provided for harmony and intimacy between human beings and their Creator, and between human beings and the rest of the creation. Tragically, humanity rebelled against God’s good plan and purposes (Genesis 3). That sinful choice infected the entire human race and creation itself was left distorted and groaning (see Romans 8:20–23). As we read Genesis 3–11, there is a clear sense that sin’s effects are spiraling out of control, and we wonder, is there a solution for this mess?

Then we arrive at Genesis 12, and God’s plan to rescue and redeem begins to unfold before our eyes. God calls a man, Abraham, and makes astonishing promises to him, promises to bless him in extraordinary ways and to make him the father of a great nation. That must have seemed too good to be true to Abraham, who was a childless old man with an elderly wife! (There are hints here of the unexpected ways in which God’s plan will continue to unfold.)

At first glance, God’s call on Abraham’s life seems to be a narrowed focus, as if God has taken his gaze off humanity in general to focus exclusively on a single family. But the Lord makes clear immediately that his eyes are still on the nations, and that Abraham’s call is for the sake of blessing “all the peoples” or “all the families of the earth” (Gen. 12:3).

Abraham’s role in this redemptive plan is summed up in the single imperative: “GO!” (v. 1). Moreover, his response is fully in line with the command: “So Abraham went” (v. 4). No questions are recorded; there is no bargaining with God or negotiating for a better option. There’s just straightforward obedience and complete trust in the One who has called him—even before Abraham receives a clear idea of his destination (v. 2).

God’s eye remains on the nations for redemptive purposes (“blessing”). His plan is to accomplish these purposes through the faithful obedience of his people.