FAITH ICONS: ABRAM (Part 3 of 6)
Genesis 12:1-3
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go 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.’”
Genesis 12:1-3
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go 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.’”
Now that’s a whale of a covenant! (pact, promise). It’s one thing to hear this as a boy, or young man, but Abram was 75 years old when God said this. With God’s new human life expectancy to be 120 years, in Genesis 6:3, Abram’s life was more than half over! But, he obeyed God and left his country—just like the Lord commanded.
Taking his wife, Sarai, and nephew, Lot, Abram set out for Canaan (Genesis 12:4). They traveled with all their possessions, the people they acquired, and all their stuff. When their caravan landed at the great tree of Moreh at Shechem, God appeared (Genesis 12:4-7).
“You do realize that the Canaanites are living in this land, Lord?” Abram inquired.
“Yeah, don’t sweat that! To you and your offspring, I will give you this land.”
Abram must have looked right, left, and ahead. WOW! He thought, all for me? He built an altar to the Lord right then and there (v. 7).
Abram journeyed east of Bethel, towards the hills, and pitched his tent. There he built another altar to the Lord, and worshipped. How must he have praised God for this wondrous promised land! Then he proceeded to Negev (v. 8-9).
Abram wandered—through Egypt when there was famine, facing Pharaoh, separated from Lot, then rescuing him in chapters 13 and 14. Abram got a vision from God in chapter 15.
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am you shield, and your very great reward.”
“I still do not have a son, Lord!” Abram reminded God.
“Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be.”
Abram believed the Lord, and his faithful obedience was attributed to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).
“I brought you here to take possession of this land, Abram!”
Take Home Nugget
I challenge you to read Genesis chapters 12-25 for yourself. Oh the wonders!
Abraham died at age 175. Ishmael and Isaac buried him in the cave of Machpelah. (Genesis 25:9).
Abraham, as father of the Jewish race, and patriarch of our Judeo-Christian belief, shows us victory by faith.
J.D. Griffith
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