Who Gets Blessed?
Who gets blessed? Let’s look at the following Bible verse:
“I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3, HCSB)
I have always read this passage and was taught that the blessing was for the nation of Israel. The teaching went like this:
“I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2, HCSB)
The first time the blessing is mentioned it relates into making Abram a great nation. Therefore, when the blessing is mentioned again in the following verse, the blessing must then apply to the nation of Israel. Therefore, if nations bless Israel, the nations will receive a blessing. If the nation curses Israel, then the nations themselves will be cursed.
However, it is clear from the verse after this “promise” that the promise applies to Abram. God will bless the people (not the nations) who bless Abram. He will also curse those who treat Abram with contempt.
The blessing which the peoples of the earth receive is not through the nation of Israel. Instead, blessing will come through Abram – through his line, through Jesus Christ.
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