Abram, Sarai, his father, Terah and
Lot was on their way to Canaan. But on the way they stopped at a
village named Haran and they decided to settle there. It was only
after the death of Terah that God spoke to Abram and told him to
continue further.
"Leave your country, your
relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will
show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation.
I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a
blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse
those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed
through you." Genesis 12:1 - 3
Wow, what an amazing thing to hear
over your own life. It must have been a very humbling moment for
Abram to realise that not only will he be blessed, but others will
be blessed through him. Plus it has already been mentioned in
Genesis 11:30 that Sarai cannot have children and here God tells
him that he will be a father of a great nation. What a wonderful
confirmation. And how did Abram react upon this news?
"So Abram departed as the Lord
instructed him." Genesis 12:4
What an amazing example. He didn't
have a list of excuses like Moses and Gideon did when God called
them. No, he immediately obeyed and departed for the land God will
show him. He didn't waste any time. It might not sound to you as
something extraordinary, but it was. It was not so easy to move for
them as it is to us today. It was much more difficult. He had
nothing to go on, no GPS to lead the way, no internet to tell him
more about the country where he was going to, no guarantees that
everything will work out, no protection from police, he had only
God's Word and that was enough for him. Abram was an extraordinary
man, the father of the faith.
And the same goes for us as well.
If God tells us to do something we must obey without delay. We
mustn't think of a dozen excuses why we can't do it; we should
rather obey immediately and go where God leads us. Now some of you
might say that it was easy for Abram to obey, because he heard
God's voice speaking to him. You are right in saying that, yes, but
remember he didn't have the written Word of God and he didn't have
the Holy Spirit living inside of him. We have both. We actually
have an advantage above Abram due to that. God's living Spirit is
inside of us and guides us, talks to us and helps us every day. We
tend to forget what an awesome privilege it is.
Obey God, don't delay. I have
delayed obedience in my life before and I literally saw how God
blessed those that stepped out in obedience without delay and how
He told me that it was too late for me to complete that specific
task now. It was a heartbreaking lesson to learn, but it was one
that stuck with me. Don't miss out on God's tasks in your life.
Each one is a blessing; something He knows will build up your
character and strengthen you within. Don't miss out on it due to
fear and insecurities that you have. Step out and be counted. God
will be pleased and you will be blessed.
Father please help us to hear Your
voice loud and clear. We want to be obedient to You and we want to
follow through with the tasks that You have for us. Please help us
with that, we are nothing without You. Thank you that we can know
that You are always by our side. In Jesus' Name. Amen