Evangelicals have a healthy preoccupation with the Great Commission—as they should. I examined it here: Another Look at the Great Commission.
Where we fall short, however, is Old Testament equivalent of the Great Commission, which I call The Great Family Commission.
First, sharing the good news of the LORD with all nations is not just a New Testament concept. It was always the LORD’s plan to share His goodness with the world.
Let me show you from Genesis:
Abram’s father, Terah, was a resident of Ur of the Chaldees (modern day Iraq). Terah intended to move his family from Ur to the land of Canaan, but, for some reason, they stopped at Haran and remained there (Gen. 11:31).
Terah died at 205 years old, at which time the Lord appeared to his son, Abram. In Genesis 12 the LORD began the slow unveiling of His plan: He intended to create a new nation. That nation, He promised Abram, will come through his offspring.
Then the LORD said this:
“…all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:3 CSB
From the beginning the LORD intended to bless the whole earth, not just Israel; but the nation of Israel (Abram’s children) would be the vehicle through which the blessing would come.
So here’s the first principle:
#1 The LORD wants to bless the whole world
How exactly would the LORD bless the whole world through Abram’s offspring?–As we will see, His plan was and is to use healthy, God-honoring families.
You can find out more in The Old Testament Great Commission: Part II