Abraham's Blessing

Abraham's blessing is set in the context of the Tower of Babel failure.  As I have mentioned in another blog, the people who wanted to build the Tower were looking for the very same things that God gave to Abraham: a name, a connection with heaven, and something to bring them together.  In Abraham's blessing, God gave Abraham a name (a good reputation) that would be timeless and a connection with heaven (Babel tried to reach up, but failed; God reached down with Abraham).  Although Babel was an attempt to unite people, it ended up dividing them; but with Abraham, God sent him to an unknown land, and through going God promised to bring all the nations to him.

There was one other dynamic in Abraham's covenant that was not contrasted to the Tower of Babel.  Abraham received a blessing from God, and that blessing is set in contrast to curses made.
1.  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 (Genesis 12:2)."

God blessed Abraham with with three blessings:
a.  Abraham would become a nation.
b.  Abraham's name would be made great.
c.  Abraham would become a blessing to others.  The next verse reveals how God would help Abraham to be a blessing to others.

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:3)."

God promised Abraham that any curses that come his way would not only be deflected, but return back to the one cursing.  This is big for those who believe that curses and blessings have power to harm or to bring good.