The Unknown is Known to God
Daily Reading: (Genesis 12:1):
“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).
Many people think this is the first time God spoke to Abram. It is the first recorded words of God to Abram, but it is not the first time God spoke to him. You’ve got to go to the New Testament to find that God previously spoke to Abram in Acts 7:2-4. The reason this is important is to show that when God will call us forward by faith into an unknown place He will confirm His calling to us.
To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran (Acts 7:2).
When we come to Genesis 12:1- the place Abram is currently at is Haran. Abram would first settle in Harran. Harran which means dried up, parched. God’s calling on your life is not to inhabit, and live in the dried up, parched place (Haran), it might be a stop in the journey, but God is leading you to the lowland or the green pastures (Canaan) [Genesis 12:1].
Abram’s earthly father had died and that can be disorienting in and of itself and make you want to camp out and inhabit in the place of grief with your other loved ones. If you will put your trust in your heavenly Father and step out into the place God will lead you to, you will find movement from a dried up place of death to a new place full of life (Genesis 11:32, Genesis 12:1-3). That is where faith will lead you because that is where God is directing your path.
Sometimes we miss the point when we think about how great Abram’s faith was, it wasn’t perfect. He forgets or doubts what God says in the very same chapter. So, this isn’t about Abram’s faith but what God’s Word will bring forth in his life.
“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.”
Did you notice there is no condition put on this? You and I might screw up like Abram did many times but in Christ our salvation is secure and we are blessed as we take steps forward in our lives by faith. Even if we doubt and even if we screw up, we are still going forward to the Promised Land.
What was it that enabled Abram to head out into the unknown place? It was the Word of the Lord that initiated the faith of Abram (Romans 10:17).
The more we see what Jesus has done for us, the more we see what Jesus has qualified us for, and the more faith will spring up within us to see miracles break forth.
As Abram (naca’) removed himself from the promised place (Canaan) he encountered famine outside of God’s Promised Word to him (Genesis 12:9-10). No matter how bad he screws up God will deliver on what He promised. The resort to Egypt (the world) is typical of the tendency to substitute for lost spiritual power the fleshly resources of the world.
God gave Pharaoh the wisdom to see that this happened because of Abram’s faithless moment so that Abram might once again be brought back to the Word of God (Genesis 12:18).
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