Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” – Genesis 12:1-3
Finally we are introduced to the great patriarch of Israel. The Lord comes to Abram with command. That is to say He comes with “covenant stipulation”. While God’s eternal decrees are sure and His will is perfect, both are always accomplished through the active living of people.
As we have previously noted, God’s promise to Abram is a “great name” (Gen 11:4). What man sought to do for themselves, God did for His elect man. What “all the earth” (Gen 11:1) sought to do, only God could do through one man who as of yet had no offspring. What is impossible for man is possible with God (Matt 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27).
The promise that a “great nation” will come from Abram often overshadows that he will be the father of “many nations” (Gen 17:4-5) but it is important to point out here to see the development of God’s covenant with Abram. There is “growth” in God’s covenants.