The Lord had said to Abram, “Go…so Abram went as the Lord told him.”
GENESIS 12:1, 4
In between that “go” of God, and Abraham’s response of obedience, stands the grandest promise ever made to a human being – a plan so boldly audacious that only the imagination of Almighty God Himself could dream it up, not to mention delivering good on the promise. Abraham was going to be blessed. But not just Abraham – the whole human race would benefit eternally from this plan!
Our study of Abraham begins this Sunday, with Kenny Clark opening up for us God’s amazing promise. It’s amazing because this is not just some nice history lesson, this promise continues to be fulfilled, as the number of Abraham’s descendants rival the number of stars in the sky.
Here’s what Abraham heard God say to him:
“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.”
There it is – great, grand and glorious – straight from the heart of God, intensely personal yet fully universal. “I will, I will, I will.” Three times God promises.
Just how did Abraham respond? Verse 4 tells us.
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.
And the grand adventure began. It would take faith, and Abram obediently went, not knowing where he was headed. Just as a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky must start with a single birth – a conception that would require a miracle. It would take agonizing and enduring trust – with fits and starts – because waiting was a lesson that God was determined to teach Abram. And along the way would come timely encounters, where God would restate his purpose for Abraham, and reassure him that He could be counted on to do what He promised.
And now, late in time, we have become part of this story. There is so much to learn from Abraham. In the coming weeks, may faith arise in our hearts to trust in any situation God puts us in, allowing him to gain glory as we live out the path marked out for us.
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