Genesis 12:1-4 NASB
Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." 4 So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Abraham was one of God's chosen men. He asked his to pack up his family and go to a new location. The fact is Abraham and his family was comfortable where they were as they had what they needed and were pretty successful. God still called him to leave where he was to be where God wanted him to be.
But God didn't tell Abraham where he was to go. I would like to have a map, some directions or at least a little bit of a clue where I was to go. God didn't offer any directions other than a command to go. That is what faith looks like.
When God says leave, He might be talking about several different things. It might be geographical like leave this town or country and go another. It is often spiritual asking us to be where God can plug into our lives and us into God best. Is God telling you to be part of a certain ministry or to serve someone in particular? Sometimes it is about leaving the pain of the past. Unforgiveness and bitterness are always a roadblock to being where God wants you to be. When we let go and leave the past, we can embrace God's future for us. The word from God might be about leaving our sin or some issue we are having a hard time dealing with. Confess that sin, forsake that sin and move on. Almost always God is reminding us to leave our comfort zone because we are on cruise control.
God says there is more that I want you to be and to do. Satan is lying to you saying you don't have what it takes. Satan, our enemy, is right for once. Trust God. Don't live by what you see or feel or think. Let God's word and His call guide you.
Hebrews 11:8 NASB
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Because of Abraham's choice to follow God many people in his family and in his future would be blessed. When God gives us a command, like he gave Abraham for him to leave, God will give a promise. He gave Abraham 7.
God said: I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse those who curse you. All people will be blessed through you.
Leaving meant Abraham and others would be blessed. There are a couple reasons we might not have left already: we are not aware of the promises of God OR we've forgotten some of God's promises.
There is greatness in you, God says, but you have to leave where you are to be where God wants you to be. But when we leave, God blesses. You and I have to leave where we are to be where God wants us to be.
Comments
Amen!