Because of his faithfulness, Abraham received many blessings. He was directed by God at the age of 75 to leave his family and land, and relocate to a land that he would eventually inherit. God said in Genesis 12:2,3 (NIV), “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth shall be blessed through you.”

Because of Abraham’s obedience, God expanded the promise when repeating it to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. “Thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”—Gen. 28:14

Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 89 when God promised them a son to be born the next year. At the same time, Abraham also received the rite of circumcision. “This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.” (Gen. 17:10) See also Acts 7:8. One year later Isaac was born.

When Isaac became a young man, Abraham sent his eldest servant to Haran to find Isaac a wife from among Abraham’s relatives. The servant found Rebekah who became Isaac’s wife. (Gen. 24:2-67) After marrying Rebekah, Isaac received the land given to his father Abraham by God. “And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.”— Gen. 25:5

Isaac also received God’s promise to Abraham which was confirmed in Genesis 26:2-4, “I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, . . . and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Notice that in these verses the heavenly seed “stars of heaven,” is mentioned exclusively to Isaac because he pictured that spiritual seed of the Abrahamic promise. Galatians 3:16,29 says, “Now unto Abraham and his seed were the promises made. . . . And to thy seed which is Christ. . . . If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” This shows us that Jesus and his followers will be the starry, heavenly seed of Abraham that will bless all the families of the earth.