#DailyDevotion The Offspring Of Faith

Lent Day 6

Gen. 22: 17I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Faith in God’s promises results in actions in accordance with that faith. Abraham trusted God’s promises and that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. But as we can see in this week’s Old Testament lesson that faith produces works. God said sacrifice your son and Abraham goes to sacrifice his son. He believed God’s promise that he would have offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven through this son who was the son of promise. He believed God could raise him from the dead if he sacrificed him.

The Lord confirms His promise to Abraham, swearing by Himself, as Abraham demonstrates his faith in the Lord. So by the time Israel enters the Promise Land the first part of this promise is fulfilled: Deu 1:10 “The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven.” They would by the time of Solomon possess all the land the Lord had promised.

But there is that one peculiar promise just sitting there: “18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” St. Paul tells us, Gal 3:16” Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.” So this offspring is Jesus Christ. All nations are blessed through him because Jesus is the Life of the World. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World. So Paul says earlier, Gal 3:8-9 “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”  (9)  So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Paul concludes then, Gal 3:29 “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” So Abraham’s children are multiplied not only through his physical descendents; but his children are also all those who believe the Lord’s promises and trust his offspring (s.) i.e. Jesus.

You are called to trust in the Lord’s promise to Abraham. You are called today to believe you are part of all nations who are blessed because of Abraham’s offspring, Jesus Christ. You are called to be a child of Abraham and thereby be a child of the Living God, your Heavenly Father. Are you going to believe this and live out this life of faith?

Heavenly Father we thank you for your great and wonderful promises, particularly those made to Abraham whereby we receive his blessings. Grant us a faith like Abraham’s that we may trust your promises to us and live our lives according to them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.