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The Call of Abram

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.

2 “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. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So, he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

 

This story of Abram has so much good news it is difficult to comprehend all the messages. Abram is the start of the blessings that God continues to heap upon us. Abram was a wealthy man, and his family was all around him. He was comfortable where he was, but God knew that Abram was the best place to start a more intimate relationship with humankind.

By picking Abram and directing him to the place where Israel could grow, prosper, struggle and mature God’s plan started to be revealed. God signaled us through Abram that his plan for our world was not using us as pawns but as full partners in this world. Today as we struggle in a world filled with noise, confusion and mixed messaging all around us it is good to ponder over our start as descendants of Abram.

When we wonder why we are here it is good to follow Abram’s example. Listen for and study God’s word from the Bible and he will direct us in the right paths to follow. Without a all-knowing God to lead humankind we would not be able to grow into the fullness that God and Christ make available.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father thank you for loving us and leading us in your ways. Help us to cancel the noise and division around us that gets in the way of us growing in our relationship with you and our sisters and brothers. Amen.

Robert Carrothers robert.carrothers@gmail.com