How Does God Bless People?

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you… and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.” - God to Abraham in Genesis 12:2

God chooses Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham) to lead the family that will be a blessing to the whole world. As the beginning of that ‘deal’ God promises to be the one who blesses Abram. Abram is truly ‘blessed to be a blessing.’ The whole idea is that God’s goodness would overflow from Abram to Abram’s people (the people of Israel) and out to the whole world.

There’s an interesting plot twist two chapters later. The very next time that the word ‘bless’ comes up is in Genesis 14 when an outsider, Melchizedek, King of Salem, blesses Abram. Instead of God somehow supernaturally imparting blessing directly from heaven, God uses an intermediary, a human. And that human isn’t even part of the ‘chosen people!’

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram. - Genesis 14:18-19

God promises to bless you - that is an enormous theme throughout scripture. Do you experience that blessing? How often do you experience it through other people? Are you aware of it coming from those outside the church? Reflect on these things and see what the Spirit is saying to you.