I was going to share with you the amazing story of Genesis 18:16-33. When I turn to one of my Bibles to Genesis 18 and saw that I had highlighted verse 19 previously, I sense that this verse is what I should really share with you this week.
We all know that Abraham is the person chosen by God since Genesis 12. But God gives no reason for how "all the people on earth are going to be blessed" through this man Abraham. (Genesis 12:3, NIV) Genesis 18:19 is the answer to this question. The first word of this sentence, which both the NIV and NRSV translated as "For I have chosen him" means "know, known, knowledge, perceive, etc." in Hebrew. Thus the KJV rendered this word as "For I know him" here. God knows that Abraham "will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." God chose Abraham not because of anything that he has done, but because of something God with His omniscience knew that Abraham WILL do. Not only he will follow God's will, but his descendants will also follow his teachings to keep the commandments of God. Paul teaches in Galatians 3:29 that "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." (NIV) In other words, "all the people on the earth" are truly blessed through him because whoever believes in Jesus Christ becomes a descendant of Abraham.
How do we know if a person is a descendant of Abraham, a follower of Christ? If such a person does "what is right and just," and teaching others, especially his/her "children and household after him/her" to do so, such a person is the true heir of Abraham and a follower of Jesus Christ.
Share an example you know that someone passes down sound biblical teachings to others, especially to the next generation. Pray for each other that not only you will do what is right and just in God's eye, but also have the wisdom to pass down this most valuable faith heritage to the generations to come.