Genesis 12:1-9
Monday, 19 August 2024
“So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” -Genesis 12:4
Genesis 12:1-3 outlines God’s specific call to Abraham in the grand purpose of God for him and his descendants as well as the blessings that would follow because of Abraham’s obedience.
Instant obedience:
God called Abraham and separated him from his people and his country and to go to “a land that I will show you.”(v.1). It meant leaving all that is familiar and moving on to the unknown. That needed a lot of trust in the One who spoke to him to make that move. The only thing God expected from Abraham was his total commitment and obedience. In our key verse we see that Abram obeyed instantaneously. This produced wonderful results for Abram and family as well as the succeeding generations. God's blessings follow us in our faithful obedience to His revealed will in our life. His blessings are kept in store in our way of obedience. But disobedience brings alienation from God.
Obedience brings separation:
God called Abram from Haran, an idolatrous background. He had to leave his father’s gods and put his faith in the living God. Abraham’s obedience to God's call meant separation from all that was hindering his relation with the true God. In other words, he was called and separated into the land where there was nothing to hold on except God. Hebrews 11:8 [NLT] says: “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” All that he could hold on to was removed and was only dependent upon God for His protection and sustenance. This needs a real work of faith. This kind of faith in God and His promises brings in blessing into our lives.
Unconditional obedience:
No condition attached to his obedience! Abraham obeyed God without any question or condition. Neither was he confused about it; he just obeyed. We see this trait all through his life and walk with God. In chapter 15, Abram obeyed God when he was asked to enter into a covenant with God. In chapter 17, he obeyed God regarding circumcision of the males of his household. In 21st chapter he sends out Ishmael according to God's directions. In 22nd chapter he obeyed God in laying down his own son Isaac as a sacrifice before God. And God rewarded his obedience with blessing not just him or his immediate generation but generations after him! All these incidents were recorded in detail for Israelites to understand and follow God in obedience without any condition— so that God can bless them and make them fruitful.
The blessings God pronounced on Abraham in the first three verses of Genesis 12 are seven-fold:
· I will make you into a great nation
· I will bless you
· I will make your name great
· You shall be a blessing
· I will bless those who bless you
· I will curse him who curses you
· In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed
The believer today understands that all of it is fulfilled—in fact the best fulfilment is in Christ Jesus, the “Seed of Abraham”, in the salvation he has brought for all humankind! (cf. Galatians 3). Those who have received this salvation in Christ have received the blessing of Abraham!
The life of Abraham points to us today to have unconditional obedience to God's call and purpose in our life!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to lead a life of faith walking in complete obedience to Your revealed will. In Jesus name. Amen.
Listen: 'Trust and obey'
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