My Bible Blog Genesis 11:10-12:3

Hundreds of years and nine generations passed from Shem (son of Noah) to Abram.  In fact, Shem was still alive and kickin’ when Abram was born, and if I did my math correctly, they were actually both alive at the same time for 110 years.  

Terah came from the line of Shem.  He was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.  Haran was the father of Lot and Milcah.  He died in the land of Ur.  Abram married Sarai, and Nahor married Milcah.  They all left Ur, and headed toward the land of Canaan, but instead settled in Haran where Terah died at the age of 205.  God told Abram to move on (to Canaan).  There God would make him a great nation.  He would bless him and make his name great so that he would be a blessing. 

Abram’s name would be great, and God wanted him to use his great name in order to be a BLESSING. That’s interesting.  Are today’s famous folks a blessing?  Well, maybe some of them, sometimes.  Occasionally, we see them on T.V. as spokespersons for good and important endeavors, but other times we see them touting abortion and bashing people who don’t agree with their views.  Unfortunately, many celebrities don’t use their name as a blessing, but as a curse, luring others into a trap of selfishness and sin, dragging them along into darkness.

God also promised Abram that He would bless those who bless him, and He would curse those who curse him, and that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed.  This last promise was fulfilled through the line of Abram when Jesus was born and died for our sins.  

Jesus just might be the most famous man who ever lived.  He endorsed the protection of children and widows, mercy and compassion for others, repentance of sin, and forgiveness.  He did not endorse tolerance, especially tolerance of sin.  He did not endorse loving self above others, but instead wanted us to help each other, to love thy neighbor as thyself, to lay down our own lives for our friends.  

Jesus has used His great name as a blessing.  His fame has endured for over 2000 years, not come and gone with a generation of fans. He is God’s Son.  He did come to this earth to sacrifice Himself for you so that you wouldn’t have to suffer eternally for your own dark deeds.  He painfully took your punishment upon Himself.  No one deserves His mercy, yet He offers it freely, pleading with you to accept it, because He knows if you don’t, you’re lost forever, and that my friends, not only breaks His heart, but mine also.