Genesis 12

Genesis 12:1

While Abram was in Ur of the Chaldees God appeared to him, probably in human shape; Acts vii. 2. as he did at least eight times afterwards; Gen. xii. 6, 7. xiii. 3, 4. xv. 1. xvii. 1. xviii. 1. xxi. 12. and xxii. 1. 15. and called him to leave his country and his father’s house, which for some time past had been infected with idolatry; Josh. xxiv. 2

Genesis 12:17

Rev. xviii. 4. Is. xli. 2. Neb. ix. 7. He readily surrendering all for the sake of Christ, Psal. xlv. 11. Luke xiv. 26. in obedience to the divine command, and relying on his direction and protection, went forth, not knowing whither the Lord intended to lead him; Heb. xi. 8. But as they had stopt too long in Haran, I suppose the call here mentioned was one which he received anew after the death of his father. Ver. 2. Abram was made a great nation. His posterity by Ishmael, by the sons of Kourah, and by Esau, were exceedingly numerous; ch. xvi. 19. xvii. 20. xxi. 13. xxv. 1—18. and xxxvi. Num. xxxi. Judg. vi. and vii. His seed of promise, by Jacob, were as the stars of heaven and the dust of the earth in multitude; ch. xiii. 16. xv. 5. xxii. 17. xxviii. 3. 14. and xxxii. 12. Num. i. and xxiii. 10. Heb. xi. 12. 1 Chron. xxi. 1 Kings iv. 20. 2 Chron. xvii. Jer. xxxiii. 22. His spiritual seed, followers of his faith and obedience, are still more numerous, a multitude which no man can number; Psal. ii. 8, 9. xxii. 27—30. lxii. and xcviii. Is. xlii. xlix. and lx. Rev. vii. 4—9. and xi. 15.—All the spiritual children of Jesus, his eminent seed, are included herein; Is. liii. 10—12. God blessed Abram, (1) with the numerous seed mentioned; (2) with Canaan as the future property of part of them; (3) with Christ, as his eminent seed; Gal. iii. 16; (4) with all spiritual blessings in Christ; Gal. iii. 14. with Eph. i. 3. Abram was a blessing, (1) to his friends and servants, who were instructed by him; Gen. xiv. 14. and xviii. 19; (2) to his posterity, who were blessed for his sake; Exod. iii. 6—8. Lev. xxvi. 42. Gen. xvii. 20; (3) to the world, as an eminent pattern of faith and holiness; Rom. iv. and as the progenitor of Christ the Saviour; Gal. iii. 13. 16.—God did and will remarkably befriend and prosper the friends of Abram and his natural seed, but especially of Jesus Christ and his spiritual seed; and did and will remarkably punish their enemies; —16. Mat. x. 42. and xxv. 41—46.—All the families of the earth are blessed in Abram. He was of great service to the Canaanites in imparting revelation to some of them, or in setting before them all an engaging example of virtue. His seed of promise, and especially his spiritual seed, are useful on that account, and have been and are still the means of the prosperity or protection of nations; Is. vi. 13. and xix. 24, 25. Mat. xxiv. 22. But it is properly in his seed (Christ) that men are blessed. Multitudes of nations receive much outward happiness, and the dispensation of gospel ordinances, in consequence of his undertaking for his people; Mat. xxiv. 24. Is. xxxv. xlix. lx. and vi. 13. And believers, gathered out of all nations, are blessed in him, with temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings; Psal. lxxii. 17—19. Is. xlv. 17, 25. It is easy to say that the subsequent promises and threatenings, say the doctrines and laws mentioned in scripture, are but an enlarged exposition of these two verses: and the whole fate of the Jewish and gospel church, nay of the saints in heaven and damned in hell, are but one continued fulfilment thereof