Mensa Otabil - Possess the Gates
- Watch
- Donate
This is day number 30 of our 40 days of power. We’ve completed three quarters of the journey, and we have a quarter more to go. May the Lord give us the strength to finish well.
Genesis 22:15–17: «Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven and said, 'By Myself I have sworn, ' says the Lord, 'because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.'»
God proved Abraham’s faith and loyalty with a very severe test. He asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, the son for whom he had waited so long. Of course, God was not going to take a human sacrifice. The passage starts by saying it is a test, so God wants to know what is in Abraham’s heart. If Abraham wants all of God, is he ready to give all that he has to God as well? Abraham didn’t seem disturbed by the demand; he set out to do what God wanted him to do. Eventually, God provided the ram for the sacrifice, and Isaac is spared. Because Abraham showed his faithfulness, God swears an oath to Abraham, saying, " I will bless you and multiply you.»
He says something very interesting in this oath given to Abraham: «Your descendants, or your seed, shall possess the gate of their enemies.» It’s a unique blessing that God gave to Abraham, meaning that Abraham will have access to cities, but not only for himself- his children and descendants after him will also have access to cities. The Bible says they will possess gates. What does it mean? Gates represented cities and their authorities in those days. People would wall their city to demarcate its boundaries and protect themselves. The gate of the city was the most important part, as it provided access to the city and the right to enter.
God says to Abraham, «Your descendants will have access to cities. I will open the gates of cities to them.» Remember, He gave this promise to Abraham at a time when there was no nation of Israel, with only him and his children. God said, «Yes, after 600 years, I will give you access to cities, and I’m going to give you the authority to enter into cities.»
For us Christians, this means that God’s blessing upon us gives us access to cities and places of authority. Those who shut their doors and want to deny us access stand no chance because God says we shall possess the gates of cities. The second blessing or implication of this blessing is access to the marketplace, as the gates of cities were the places where the elders met. That is where all important decisions were made, determining who could trade in the city and whose ideas would govern it.
God is saying to Abraham, «Your descendants will be at the center of decision-making; they will capture the marketplace and influence what goes on in the world and in nations.» Today, as Christians, we can claim this blessing: we will not be denied access to the marketplace, the business world, or the political realm because we possess the gates of cities, nations, and kingdoms.
Today, the Lord is giving you the key to the gates of nations, systems, and corporate organizations. Receive it now.
Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, I take my stand as Your child to possess the gates of this world for You and Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»