Following the Blessing of Abraham

Following the Blessing of Abraham

The Initial Blessing Given to Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3-- Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. ²I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Based on Genesis 12:2 what does Adonai promise concerning Abram's descendants?
Based on Genesis 12:2 what two things does Adonai promise to do for Abram?
Based on Genesis 12:2 what does Adonai prophecy concerning how Abram will influence others?
Based on Genesis 12:3 how will Adonai treat others based their treatment of him?
Based on Genesis 12:3 how will Abram influence the entire world?
Genesis 12:1-3 makes specific promises and some general blessings. What are the three specific promises made to Abram?

Can we agree that one of the main promises given to Abram focused on his descendants?--Since Adonai promised to make Abram into a great nation, that promise must concern his descendants who will become that nation.

Considering Adonai promised to make a great nation out of Abram's descendants, should that promise (which obviously pertains to his descendants) be interpreted as pertaining to physical descendants or spiritual descendant?-- The p'shat (literal meaning) forces us to conclude that Adonai is talking about physical descendants ONLY! This of course does not preclude a more midrashic interpretation. It simply means that the p'shat applies to his physical offspring.

Try to answer the questions on your own. I have included my answers near the end. Just click on the hyperlinks. If you have any questions, e-mail me. I will continue to post verses, approximately one every one or two weeks. So come back and check later. I will also introduce other concepts later, which will include instruction on how to study the Scriptures thematically.

May YHVH bless you in your Torah Study

My Answers to Questions

Abram's descendants will become a great nation
Adonai promises to bless Abram and make his name great
Abram will be a blessing
He will bless those who bless Abram and curse those who curse Abram
All families of the earth will be blessed IN/THROUGH Abram
Adonai will make Abram into a great nation. Adonai will make Abram's name great. All families of the earth will be blessed in/through Abram