I’ve recently started a new Bible reading plan on www.youversion.com (also found at: https://www.bible.com and this bible plan is taking me though the Entire Bible… which is good for any follower of Jesus to do.
The plan I started is done by a company called The Bible Project. This site is Top Shelf. Their video explanations are Top Shelf. Everything about this is worth checking out. (Ok, enough with the shameless plug)
My bible reading has taken me back to where everything started. the Book of Genesis. So much in this book, but what caught my attention today was the Call of Abram. (Later, Abraham) We can read the account in Chapter 12:
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. 9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. (NLT2)
So the part that really got me thinking this morning was the first 4 verses.. God called Abram to “Go” and Abe “Went”. If he had a conversation with God about “where” we’re not told. But what we are told is fascinating to me.
Abe picked up everything and went. Family. Food. Animals. He took it all, simply because God told him to go.
Abe left what he knew for what he didn’t know. He had no idea what would happen to him, but he had a promise: “ I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
God had promised to make his name famous and great and he would become to be the father of many nations… but that would come later, and it did… but in this instance, God told Abe to go.
Oh, how I wish I had/have the faith of Abe. When God speaks to me (And, yes, I believe He does speak to me…) I want to obey. I want to do what He says. As the Hymn writer of old wrote: “Where He leads, I will follow”
Abe had a promise. That’s all He needed to go. We have Jesus. He’s all we need to go.
In fact, our love for God is measured by our obedience to His commands:
1Jo 5:3 “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”
2Jo 1:6 “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.”
Jesus said: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.” (Joh 15:10)
Loving God is demonstrated by obey His commands.
May we all be like Abram, and, when God speaks to us, we will obey and follow Him!
