Our reading this week has been the Abraham story found in chapters 12-27 of Genesis. We read from when God first spoke to Abraham all the way through his death.
Abraham receives the blessing of God. But in Abraham, blessing takes on new meaning. God has been blessing since the creation. But blessing has been tied to creation. Blessing has been tied to fruitfulness. With God's blessing of Abraham, blessing is also tied to promise.
Within creation, blessing is powerful, life-enabling and life-sustaining. However this kind of blessing is still insufficient for the fullest life possible for human beings. Humans need something more to give life meaning. When blessing is tied to promise, blessing is brought into the sphere of redemption, of the hope and promise of a fullness of life not possible before.
God is now committed to a future with the one who has faithfully responded. The text describes not only human faithfulness but divine faithfulness. Not only will Abraham never be the same again, neither will God. God has created a new family and a new world where redemption is forever more the goal.
We are forever blessed through Abraham and his faithfulness.
Rev Linda
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This is beautifully written. Thank you.
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