Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 12:1-3

"Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father`s house, unto the land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." — Genesis 12:1-3 (ASV)

God chose Abram and singled him out from among his fellow-idolaters, so that he might reserve a people for himself, among whom his true worship might be maintained until the coming of Christ.

From that time forward, Abram and his descendants became almost the only subject of the history in the Bible. Abram was tested to see if he loved God more than all else, and whether he could willingly leave everything to go with God. His relatives and his father's household were a constant temptation to him; he could not continue among them without the danger of being infected by them.

Those who leave their sins and turn to God will be unspeakable gainers by the change. The command God gave to Abram is much the same as the gospel call, for natural affection must give way to Divine grace. Sin, and all occasions for it, must be forsaken—particularly bad company.

This call includes many great and precious promises, for all God's precepts are accompanied by promises to the obedient.

1. I will make of you a great nation. When God took Abram from his own people, he promised to make him the head of another people.

2. I will bless you. Obedient believers shall be sure to inherit the blessing.

3. I will make your name great. The name of obedient believers shall certainly be made great.

4. You shall be a blessing. Good men are the blessings of their country.

5. I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you. God will take care that none are losers, by any service done for his people.

6. In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Jesus Christ is the great blessing of the world, the greatest that ever the world possessed.

All the true blessedness the world now possesses, or ever shall possess, is owing to Abram and his descendants. Through them we have a Bible, a Savior, and a gospel. They are the stock on which the Christian church is grafted.