Abraham's Faith and God's Blessings: Second Sunday after Pentecost

In Genesis 12:1-9 the Old Testament reading for this week, we see God setting Abram apart consecrating him unto the LORD, and Abram in faith taking actions of trust leaving his home. Abram's faith is reckoned to him as righteousness as Paul says in Romans 4. Abram's faith results in God's covenantal promise "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 the one who curse you I will curse, and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed." This covenant is joined with verse Gen12:7 "Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." Psalm 33:12 reiterates "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage."