§ 24. The Calling and Emigration of Abraham.
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Observation 3. — The words of Jehovah: “I will curse him that curseth thee,” express, as it is very evident, not the rule which Abraham is to observe in his conduct towards those who curse him, but the rule which God will adopt when he judges them. It is precisely the fact that God assumes the office of punishing them, which imposes on Abraham the obligation to submit both the curse and the vengeance to God exclusively. Abraham is appointed to “be a blessing,” and “all families of the earth shall be blessed” in him — hence it is his office to bless and not to curse. Besides, the word of Jehovah does not refer to Abraham simply as an individual, but to Abraham as the representative of the chosen people, and as the bearer of the divinely-appointed development of salvation; — hence, those who curse Abraham are not here his personal enemies, but those who disturb and oppose the divine development of salvation, and who do not hate the person of Abraham or of his seed, but rather the calling, the office and the position which he received from God. This minatory language of God is a pledge that, in his just administration of earthly affairs, he will ultimately hurl back on the nations and the kingdoms of the world that curse which they bring on the chosen people. The whole history of the people of Israel, and of their collisions with other nations, furnishes evidence of the strictness with which God has fulfilled his word. (See § 56. 2, and § 89.)
Observation 3. — The words of Jehovah: “I will curse him that curseth thee,” express, as it is very evident, not the rule which Abraham is to observe in his conduct towards those who curse him, but the rule which God will adopt when he judges them. It is precisely the fact that God assumes the office of punishing them, which imposes on Abraham the obligation to submit both the curse and the vengeance to God exclusively. Abraham is appointed to “be a blessing,” and “all families of the earth shall be blessed” in him — hence it is his office to bless and not to curse. Besides, the word of Jehovah does not refer to Abraham simply as an individual, but to Abraham as the representative of the chosen people, and as the bearer of the divinely-appointed development of salvation; — hence, those who curse Abraham are not here his personal enemies, but those who disturb and oppose the divine development of salvation, and who do not hate the person of Abraham or of his seed, but rather the calling, the office and the position which he received from God. This minatory language of God is a pledge that, in his just administration of earthly affairs, he will ultimately hurl back on the nations and the kingdoms of the world that curse which they bring on the chosen people. The whole history of the people of Israel, and of their collisions with other nations, furnishes evidence of the strictness with which God has fulfilled his word. (See § 56. 2, and § 89.)
