How can the families of the earth be blessed through Abraham?

Question:

Hi there! I hope you're well!

Romans 2:24, "Because of you, the Gentiles blaspheme My name." Does this contradict Genesis 12:3? How could the blasphemers be not cursed if they are excused by Romans 2:24?

Thank you so much.

Answer:

"And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:3).

God promises Abram (later Abraham) that everyone in the world will be blessed through him. By this, God is hinting that the Savior of the world will be a descendant of Abram. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, God's blessings are available to anyone who believes in Jesus. "The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'All the nations will be blessed in you.' So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer" (Galatians 3:8-9).

"You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For 'The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,' just as it is written" (Romans 2:23-24).

Paul argued that Jesus had broken God's Law, just as the Gentiles had done. While the Jews thought they were superior to the Gentiles because they had God's Law, that law did them no good because they didn't keep it. Worse, many Gentiles saw the Jews' hypocrisy and assumed that the Jews' behavior was what God commanded. Therefore, God's reputation was being slandered.

These two passages do not contradict each other.

 

Question:

Thank you for this! That helps.

Let me give an example of what I mean. Imagine that in the Old Testament, a pagan was treated very unjustly and harshly by believers. This pagan, not knowing the true God, blasphemes Him or curses them. Is he still cursed because of the verse "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you"?

Answer:

The "you" in Genesis 12:3 is Abram, not God. God told Abram that He would watch over Abram and bring justice. Those who treated Abram well would be blessed, and those who treated Abram badly would suffer. Nothing in this verse indicates the treatment is permanent.