READ: Gen. 12:1-5
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. – Heb. 11:8
After the confusion of languages in Babel, hundreds of years pass with many generations of Shem (Gen. 11:10-26) before Abram is called by the LORD in Ur of the Chaldeans. Unbelief has spread throughout the world, and there is little left of the seed of the woman. The LORD is still being served in the household of Terah, but idolatry has also crept in there (Josh. 24:2). The church is in a critical phase.
But then God intervenes once again. He calls Abram to leave his family and go to an unknown land that the LORD will show him. Abram is not given a choice; it will be the land of God’s choosing. That gives Abram assurance. God’s command is accompanied by a rich promise. He will become a great nation, and God will bless him! Abram’s name will be great, for he will be a blessing. God will be with him in everything: those who bless Abram will be blessed by God, and those who oppose and curse him will be cursed by God.
God makes Abram of great importance for all the nations of the earth. This is because the Christ, who will be born from his offspring (Matt. 1), is coming. We hear, for the first time, of God’s blessing upon humanity, who lie under His curse. With Noah, God’s blessing was on the work of the earth. Now God’s blessing concerns the person who believes.
Faith remains the covenant condition to receive God’s blessing. Abram believes God and obediently follows the path that God shows him. He turns away from idols to travel to an unknown land. Abram follows God’s command “blindly” into the future, but with full confidence because God is with him. Abram’s faith is an example for us. In Christ, we also receive rich promises. What do we do with them?
Are you willing to sacrifice everything when God asks for it?
Singing: Ps. 84:4