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Pearls of the Kingdom 5/31/23
Consider with me today this passage from Genesis chapter 12. The heading in my bible reads, “The Call of Abram.” Perhaps we can call this a class, “Faith & Obedience 101”
Gen 12: 1- 5 “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.”
There is so much here in just these first few verses. At first glance the first thought being Abram you are giving up a lot here:
1. Go, from your country
2. Go, from your people
3. Go, from your father’s household
Thankful that the Lord does not stop here but goes on to share what He will do through Abram. The blessing of the Lord is greater than what Abram was leaving behind.
1. I will make you a great Nation
2. I will bless you
3. I will make your name great
4. You will be a blessing
5. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you
6. All the people of the earth will be blessed by you.
Only one thing needed now, Abram had to “Go.” Without any debate or give me some time to pray about it. Lord can you give me just a little more “detail” on how this all works out. What’s’ this place like where you are sending me? How long will this take? Lord, at my age of 75 I should be taking it easy and you want me to set out on a journey.
Have you ever wrestled with the Lord when He asks you do something? Take you out of your “comfort” zone? You want me to do what?
Abram, without dispute or delay, by faith and obedience we see in verse 4, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.” Sound a bit familiar to Luke 9:23, “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
There is so much to Abrams’ journey. One interesting note I found was this journey would encompass some 300 miles. It wasn’t going to be a day trip. It wasn’t, get on the thruway and take exit 50. There was a river to cross, the Euphrates. Seems this thought of “crossing over” or “passing over” water would happen again in the future. There will be some challenges, struggles, hills and valleys along the way. Step by step Abram walked in Faith and Obedience toward Canaan.
My hope for you my friends, if it has been some time, go back in time and consider this story of Abram once again. May his faith and obedience to the Lords call to “Go” be an encouragement to us today when the Lord asks of us, “Go.”
Pastor Jeff