THEME 6 OBEDIENCE EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD
SCRIPTURE [1]
Then the Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives and your father’s family. Go to the land I will show you.
I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you.
I will make you famous. And you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you. I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you.”
So Abram left Haran as the Lord had told him. And Lot went with him. At this time Abram was 75 years old. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and everything they owned. They took all the servants they had gotten in Haran. They set out from Haran, planning to go to the land of Canaan. In time they arrived there.
Abram traveled through that land. He went as far as the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. The Canaanites were living in the land at that time. The Lord appeared to Abram. The Lord said, “I will give this landto your descendants.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
THINK ABOUT IT
Sometimes God asks us to do something that is very difficult. When we are sure it is God’s call, we will know that even though it may not seem reasonable to us, He will work things out to His glory.
In this case, our old friend Abram and his wife Sarai, are asked to leave where they are and to wander in the desert. He obeys. Then God makes another promise to him. Again God says all the people on earth will be blessed through him. Remember, his heirs will outnumber the stars, but he doesn’t know this yet God will make of him a great nation. He is seventy-five years old. It’s not easy to wander the desert and live in tents. But he is willing to do it.
We need to obey when authorities ask us to do things. Children need to obey their parents in the Lord. The Bible teaches that. So this is another story about obeying what God says to do.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father,
We pray that when we have opportunities to serve You, that we will be willing to obey, even when it might be a difficult choice. We know You will equip us to do Your will as you did Abram, that You will protect us, that You guide us in the pathways You have set before us. We are grateful that You have given us examples, one after another, of Old Testament heroes and heroines so that we can learn to follow their example. Help us to always be willing to serve You, even when it might not be convenient, and even when no one else is watching. We want to be Your servant leaders, and pray for You to use us wherever or whenever You wish for Your Kingdom’s sake. Amen.
[1] Genesis 12: 1-7. Ibid.
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