Genesis 12:1-9
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.
8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
Genesis 12:1-9 HOW DID ABRAM (ABRAHAM) KNOW GOD?
Springford Baptist Church: January 16, 2022.
Doesn’t it feel these days as if so many plans are on hold?
In fact, it is very difficult to plan because there is such uncertainty about what we will be able to do at any given time.
Whether it is giving thought to gathering with family or friends, for in person church, or for other hoped for events, we can plan all we like, but we cannot guarantee the outcome.
In our continued quest around knowing God, we will consider today how Abram knew God.
Abram had a close relationship with God where God spoke directly to him. God had already given Abram instructions to leave the place where he was (Haran) and hear this, God had plans for Abram. In fact, Abram (later called Abraham) would discover throughout his lifetime that God had plans for him.
The key for Abram was, in knowing God, would Abram follow God’s plans for him?
At the time that God instructed Abram to leave where he was and to go to the land that God would show him, Abram was 75 years old (Genesis 12:4) and did not yet have children.
Keep that in mind as we look at the plans that God reveals He has for Abram. This man Abram will discover that even seemingly unlikely plans can come about if God is in it.
The LORD says to Abram,
“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.”
God is revealing Himself to Abram as One Who is lovingly interested in Abram and in his family. God intends to make Abram a great nation and to bless him.
We learn from Abram that if God has plans for us, we must choose what we will do with those plans. If our lives consist of making our own plans and trying everything we know to maneuver those self-interested plans into place, then we will miss God’s plans for us.
When Abram receives these plans from God, we are told that He took action. “So Abram left as the LORD had told him.” (Genesis 12:4a)
Abram was willing to leave what was familiar and comfortable. Why? It would not have been easy. He was venturing into unknown territory. It was only as He believed God and trusted God’s plans for him that he had the courage to set out. He was going to the land God promised to him, the land of Canaan.
What might we have to leave behind if we are to know God and His plans for us?
Is there something that you or I hold on to that could prevent us from discovering God’s best plans for us?
I wonder if the experiences we have been having during this pandemic have revealed some of the things to which we hold tightly. Are we willing to release our grip on the familiar to journey with God into new territory that God promises will bring blessing to us?
We are told here in Scripture that Abram and all those travelling with him set out for the land of Canaan and arrived there. (Genesis 12:5)
Abram travels through this promised land and arrives at a place where the LORD appears to him again and says, “To your offspring, I will give this land.” (Genesis 12:7a) As yet Abram has no children, but he continues to trust God’s plans for him.
What is Abram’s response to God? He builds an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 12:7b)
Abram’s response to God here is to acknowledge and to worship God.
Again, when Abram travels on and pitches his tent east of the hills of Bethel, what does he do? He builds an altar to the LORD and calls on the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:8)
“Bethel” literally means “house of God”. Abram wants to ensure that God is dwelling with Him wherever he goes. He calls on the name of the LORD and commits Himself to God.
This building of altars demonstrates that Abram is recognizing God and inviting God’s Presence to be with Him and to continue to guide him.
This will be the pattern of Abram’s life. He will keep on craving the fulfillment of God’s plans for him.
At 99 years of age, Abram had not yet had his son Isaac and the LORD appears to him and says, “I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” (Genesis 17:1,2) It is at this time that God changes Abram’s name and explains, “No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:5)
What about us? In our desire to know God, will we dare to believe as Abraham did that God has plans for us? Will we be willing to leave behind whatever is necessary in order to travel into the promised land that God has for us?
There are many things (like a pandemic) that can sidetrack our own plans and carefully constructed ambitions. As Abraham discovered, there is nothing that can sidetrack God’s plans for us. Abraham learned what we can learn in knowing the LORD our God. God does have plans for us and His plans are good and will bring blessing!