Genesis 22:18

In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed

Blessing in Abraham’s seed

1.

There was to be a seed, a natural seed, including a spiritual seed, and this again including an individual seed.

2. The seed of Abraham is to have a relation to all the families of the earth. As Abraham was not a head of all mankind, like Adam or Noah, it was necessary to emphasize the universality of the blessing.

3. The benefit conveyed by the seed is here characterized by the word “blessed.” Blessing is like mercy in this: that it sums up in one word the whole salvation of which the Bible is the gospel. It involves redemption and regeneration, both of which are necessary to salvation. (Prof. J. G. Murphy)

A great promise

1. This promise

(1) narrows down previous Messianic anticipations, inasmuch as it points to the family instead of the race, as the source whence the Great Benefactor should arise;

(2) vastly widens them, inasmuch as it indicates that the beneficent work of that Benefactor will be universal.

2. We conclude that this is an anticipation of Christ, because

(1) it has proved to be an accurate description of Him;

(2) it is only true of Him;

(3) New Testament distinctly applies the Scripture to Him. This warranted, we look for the advent of Christ as for--

I. THE ADVENT OF A BENEFACTOR FROM AMONG THE JEWS. This suggests-

1. The proper interest we should take in the Jewish people.

2. The solemn warning that contact with what is most sacred does not ensure blessing.

II. THE ADVENT OF A BENEFACTOR FOR THE WORLD. We may adoringly notice--

1. The way in which Christ has already been a universal blessing.

2. The future that there yet must be for Christianity. (Homilist.)

All nations blessed in Abraham’s seed

I. SOME OF THE REASONS FOR GIVING THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE MESSIAH: “The seed of Abraham.”

1. Christ is called the seed of Abraham because He was to assume human nature; to be truly man; a man like ourselves.

2. Christ was called the seed of Abraham, that additional evidence of His claims as Messiah might be given when He came into the world.

3. There is a third reason why He is called, why, in fact, He was made, the seed of Abraham. There is, after all, a peculiar relation between Christ and the Jews, as His brethren after the flesh.

II. Let us now consider THE IMPORT OF THE DECLARATION, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”

1. In the first place, there is its Divinely revealed truth.

2. The religion of Christ is calculated to produce human happiness, because it exhibits the Divinely-prescribed method by which the guilty may obtain pardon; in other words, that great doctrine of human hope and joy, that of justification by faith in the atonement and intercession of the Saviour.

3. In further examining this Divine system, to discover its adaptation to human happiness, we find the great, the singular, promise of the Holy Spirit.

4. Another adaptation to human happiness in Christianity is found in its explicit enforcement of those relative duties on which the welfare of society so much depends.

5. The last of these adaptations is, the kind and merciful spirit of the Gospel. (R. Watson.)