The calling of Abram

Abram sets out on his journey. After he arrives in Canaan, God tells him that He will give this land to his descendants.

Although Abram and Sarai were already very old, God repeats these promises of a great offspring. In Genesis 22:17, God promises Abram:

“indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand, which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.”

When God makes a promise, He fulfills it. Just like the promise of their own land, the birth of Abram and Sarai’s son Isaac is a great miracle.

God gives Abram another promise:

“And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3 NASB)

In this promise we see how important Abram’s descendants, the people of Israel, are to Him. God’s promises always remain valid. Therefore, we can still trust in them today.

Did you know?

Did you know that the phrase “The God of Israel” appears more than 200 times in the Bible?

Confirmation of the promises made to Isaac

God confirms that the promises He made to Abram would continue through his son Isaac.

“Live for a time in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 26:3-4. NASB)

Jacob also receives confirmation of promises

While Jacob is fleeing from his brother Esau and staying alone in Bethel, God confirms to Jacob the same promises He had made to Abram and Isaac:

“Then behold, the Lord was standing above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants.” (Genesis 28:13. NASB)

Years later, when Jacob returns with his wives and children to meet his brother Esau, he is afraid of how Esau will react. After all, Jacob had deceived him. Would Esau still be angry with him?

Jacob sends everyone ahead while he remains alone behind at Peniel. At Peniel, a man wrestles with Jacob. Jacob is not defeated and says:

“I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Then the man says:

Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but [q] Israel; for you have contended with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28 NASB)

From this moment on, the promises are no longer given only to individual people such as the patriarchs Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, but to Israel as a people.

When Jacob continues his journey with his wives and children to Bethel, God again confirms His promises there:

“And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.” (Genesis 35:12 NASB)

Map of the historical borders of the twelve tribes of Israel

God is faithful

God is faithful. He keeps the promises He made to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israel became a great nation and lives (again) in the land of Israel. God blesses Israel and leads them like a merciful Father who intervenes when necessary.

If you want to get to know God, know that He is not far away from you. God Himself has revealed Himself as the God of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel, and a merciful Father.

We may thank God every day that He is faithful to His promises, as we can see, among other things, in the fulfillment of the promises He made to the patriarchs. We can see for ourselves that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel, does not let go of what His hand once began.