Hope for All Peoples
Genesis 12:1-3 (NASB 2020 edition)
1 Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go from your country,
And from your relatives,
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you into a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
REFLECTION
We live in an increasingly globalized world. Technology connects us instantly to people across the globe, allowing us to share ideas, experiences, and cultures in ways unimaginable just a few decades ago. Yet this interconnectedness also exposes us to the deep divisions, conflicts, and injustices that persist between nations and people groups. News of ethnic strife, political tension, and inequality confronts us daily, reminding us that peace and unity remain elusive. What hope is there?
The call of Abraham marks a foundational moment in God’s redemptive plan. God’s promise - “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3) - reveals His heart for the nations from the very beginning. Abraham’s family was chosen not for privilege, but for purpose. Through them, God would bring blessing and restoration to the world, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham.
This blessing finds its fullest expression in the gospel. Christ’s coming is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham - He brings salvation not only to Israel but to all people. As Paul later writes in Galatians 3:8, “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’” Advent reminds us that Christ’s mission was global from the start. His birth marks the moment when the promise to Abraham begins to reach its fulfillment: hope extended to every tribe, language, and nation.
This truth shapes how we live today. For me, pastoring a diverse international church in Bangkok, Thailand of over 20 nations for the past few years it is particularly pertinent. I have personally witnessesd the incredible healing and unity that is only possible as people follow Jesus and receive the hope and healing, He brings to people of all nations and backgrounds.
Just as Abraham’s family was called to be a blessing to others, all of us are invited into the same mission. As followers of Christ, we are carriers of the hope that began with Abraham and reached its climax in Jesus and needs be shared with all peoples.
PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your promise to bless all peoples through Abraham. Help me remember that I am part of Your mission to bring hope to the world. Give me the grace to reflect Your love to those around me and extend the blessing of Christ wherever I go. Amen.
Written by the Rev. Isaac Lasky (Thailand), Prior of the Missional Base in Asia and Director of the GAP Program.
