The Bible Book

44

I WILL

MAKE OF

YOU A GREAT

NATION

GENESIS 12:2, COVENANTS

T

he conversion of Abraham

by God is one of the most

remarkable in the Bible.

God’s decision to reveal Himself

to this ordinary man resulted in

the emergence of three of the

world’s major religions—Judaism,

Christianity, and Islam.

In Genesis 12:2, God appears

to Abraham and urges him to leave

his home and go to Canaan. In this

critical narrative of posterity,

introducing the concept of a people

chosen to deliver God’s message

of salvation, God tells Abraham: “I

will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you; I will make

your name great, and you will

be a blessing. I will bless those who

bless you, and whoever curses you

I will curse; and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.”

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Genesis 12:1–20:17

THEME

Abraham’s Covenant

SETTING

Early 2nd millennium bce

The Fertile Crescent, Canaan,

and Egypt.

KEY FIGURES

Abraham Son of Terah,

who becomes the father of

all nations.

Sarah Abraham’s famously

beautiful wife.

Lot Abraham’s nephew, who

travels toward Canaan with

Abraham and Sarah.

Pharaoh Unnamed ruler

of Egypt.

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