‘The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you”‘ (Genesis 12:1 NLT).
The Lord called a 75 year old man named Abram to leave his father’s house and go to a land that God would show him. And he immediately obeyed God’s call.
Let us look at the implications of this verse. For there are at least five insights and applications for us to consider:
1) God calls. He still speaks to those who would listen.
2) God’s call is always beyond our comfort zone. Abram was old and at ease. Why should he leave the comfort of his father’s house and go out into the unknown? Yet, he obeyed.
3) Abram had the freedom to decline God’s call. God did not force him to obey.
4) God does not explain all the details when He calls. He told Abram to go to a land that He would show him.
5) God offers His active presence and guidance to those who answer His call. He may not have told Abram where he was to go, but He did promise to “show” him. In other words, once Abram started “going,” God would start “showing.” God would be with Abram to guide and protect him.
As we know, Abram obeyed God’s call. And through him, God has blessed all nations just as He promised. For this reason, God changed Abram’s name to “Abraham,” which means “father of nations.” Abraham trusted God’s promises before seeing their proof. He obeyed God’s call. He went where God told him to go, trusting that God would show.
We tend to want God to show before we go. But that’s not how God works. First, we must obey His call to go and then, going, we will see Him show up in ways we’ve never seen before!
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to hear Your voice today, so that we might hear and obey. Whether we are young or old, help us to always be ready to answer Your call. For we are Your servants, blood-bought by Your Son, Jesus. Forgive us where we have neglected Your guidance. Put our feet on the right path and strengthen us to walk by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.