Ge 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
The great Egyptians built amazing structures. The Assyrians gobbled up other nations with cruelty. The Babylonians built an awesome city and empire. The Medes and Persians conquered it. The Greeks inculcated a culture and language which influences us to this day. The mighty Romans ruled vastly, and their love of law has tendrils intertwining into modern society.
God brought something more powerful through Abraham, “a great and mighty nation.” Compare that nation with other nations. Did it conquer vast tracts of land? Rule other nations in an Empirical fashion? Did it extend the arm of colonialism into the world? Did this nation make the world tremble through military power? (In fact its king was commanded not to maintain a cavalry. Cf. Deut.17:16) The nation’s foundation was found in Abraham’s way; “. . he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment. . .” This is much more powerful than armies or nuclear weapons. Invested in Israel was the seed of God’s good will.
A voice cried from this nation: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”