A Gift For All Families

[The Lord said,] “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:2-3

DO YOU KNOW where you can find the Christmas story in the Bible? Most of the time we look to the Gospels—specifically Matthew 1 and Luke 2. But do you realize the Christmas story actually extends back to Genesis, the first book of the Bible?

When God promised that his servant Abraham would have a son, he also promised that Abraham’s family would grow into a great nation—the nation of Israel. God also promised that this nation would somehow, some way, bring about a blessing for “all the families on earth.” That’s quite a prophecy! That’s quite a promise, given the billions of people that have lived and died on this planet over the years.

So how would one man produce a legacy that would bless the entire world? The answer is Jesus. Jesus’ entrance into the world as a descendant of Abraham signaled a blessing for all people. The angel declared this to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, saying, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10). The angel clarified things a bit for Joseph when he said, “Jesus . . . will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

As you celebrate the miracle of Christmas this year, remember also the miracle of Genesis 12. Thousands of years ago—thousands of years even before Mary and Joseph—God promised to bless all the families of the earth through the birth of his Son. That includes your family; that includes you. And just like Abraham, step out in faith with all of God’s promises, going wherever he asks, and watch as the blessings follow!