After the Almighty God renames Abram to Abraham, the first thing that God promises to Abraham, in the covenant that the LORD establishes with him, is that he would make him fruitful – exceedingly fruitful.
While “to be fruitful” can in this instance literally mean that the childless Abraham shall have a seed of his own, referring to Isaac, we see in the letter of Apostle Paul to the Church in Galatia that the Seed promised here referred to Christ Jesus himself (Galatians 3:16). Jesus was born centuries later in the line of Abraham and everyone who believes in him are are grafted into him (Romans 11:17; Romans 6:5), the Vine, through whom alone they can bear much fruit (John 15:5).
Points to ponder:
In other words, in order for Abraham to be fruitful, he would need to be rooted in Christ – and the same goes for each one of us. Are you and I rooted in Christ? Another thing to note is when the fruit of a tree is delicious to taste, we often praise the gardener. In other words, the glory does not go to the tree but the gardener/caretaker. In like manner, does the produce (fruit) of our lives bring glory to God the Father, the caretaker of our lives. Jesus himself said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples” (John 15:8). We know that we are fruitful – exceedingly fruitful, only when we live by the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God (Galatians 5:22-23) and that in turn brings glory to God the Father. Are you and I exceedingly fruitful?
Genesis 17:6 (KJV)
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
John 15:5-8 (KJV)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
