HEAR THE CALL
Genesis 12:1-8
Introduction
In Recovery Month we are engaging the Scriptures through the eyes of recovery so that… We can acknowledge all of us are in recovery from something. Jonathan Benz “…The case can be made on both statistical and existential grounds that the addicts in our midst include our very own selves.” We can acknowledge that we struggle with habits that are not helping us / others in discipleship. We can learn from our brothers and sisters in recovery and
extend acceptance, love, and joy to them.
Last week we spent some time with Noah and we were encouraged to build a boat in our recovery: Believe, Obey, Abide, Trust God. When we have that relationship with God, we are empowered to grow stronger in the broken places of our lives.
Today we venture further into Genesis to the story that lives throughout the pages of Scripture - the Father of the Faithful - Abraham. Bible heroes are heroic, but they are not perfect. In his stubborn struggles, Abraham manages to hang on to faith. This is because his journey with God began with a call. This week: Hear the Call!
Text:
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “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. I will bless those who bless you,? and whoever curses you I will curse;?and all peoples on earth? will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him … 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.
Let’s think about three ways to hear God’s call.
1. Hear the Call to Leave (Genesis 12:1)
Genesis 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
Abraham was asked to leave his country. Abraham’s father lived much of his life in Ur of the Chaldeans, but later moved his family to Haran and settled there. God called Abram to step out of an idol worshiping environment to new place - a place unknown to Abram. There are a lot of things we do not know here - why Abraham? How did he know it was God speaking to Him? Did he take some time to decide about the call? We do know that Abraham heard the call to leave.
God asks of us to leave our way of life behind. Arterburn: “God has promised to be with us as we seek his help in recovery, but he may also ask something of us. As with Abram, God may call us away from the familiar world that drags us down. And if we want to progress, we will need to follow his plan.”
What are we leaving behind? INFLUENCES keep us where we do not want to be; bring hurt and damage, impact our own soul. One reason we get stuck in our hurts, habits, and hangups is that we do not want to leave behind the environments that contribute to our ongoing issues. Leaving is scary.
Oswald Chambers wrote, “Faith never knows where it is being led; it only knows and loves the One who is leading.
We may not know where we are going, but we know who is making us go.”
2. Hear the Call of His Promises (Genesis 12:2-4)
Genesis 12:2-4 “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. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
These are amazing promises from God that are repeated over and over throughout Abraham’s life.
John Wesley noted the hope that Gods promises provided.
-He lost his country, but God would give him another.
-He didn’t have children, but God promised a future.
-He lost his name, God promised a great name!
-He lost the security of his home but was promised blessing and protection from enemies.
-All peoples on earth would be blessed.
Wesley: “This was the promise that crowned all the rest, for it points at the Messiah, in whom all the promises are [yes] and amen."
These promises are fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ.
God’s Promises …
-Are not like the promises we make - which we often break.
-Are found throughout scripture.
-Are always kept, even if that is a mystery to us.
-Reveal His heart to love us and carry us through.
-Give you assurance for when you fail.
-Give you power to begin again in faith.
Wiersbe: “We are not saved by making promises to God; we are saved by believing God’s promises to us.”
Psalm 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
3. Hear the Call to Come Home (Genesis 12:8)
Genesis 12:8 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.
Bethel means “the house of God” and Ai means “ruin.” Figuratively speaking, Abraham and Sarah were walking in the light from east to west, from the city of ruin to the house of God! (Wiersbe)
James 2:23 …“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
God is calling us to himself… away from the things that cause us pain … toward His promises … to his house. This reminds me of the prodigal who ran home after finding out that following his own path didn’t bring him the life he
wanted. If you ever wondered if God wanted you - with any problems or struggles you are facing - at his house,
there’s your answer.
Conclusion
Build the boat: Believe, Obey, Abide, Trust.
Hear the Call: Leave, receive His promises, come home.
When we look at Abraham’s faith we learn so much: Start Where You Are - God called Abraham before Abe believed. Don’t plan on understanding everything - Abe didn’t know where he was going. Remember that faith is in God, not in self.
I wonder if anyone is hearing God’s call today?
2 Thessalonians 2:14 “He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Move out by faith today!
________________________
Video of this message is available on our YouTube Channel at
https://www.youtube.com/c/ForsytheChurchofChrist
________________________
Discussion Questions on Genesis 12:1-8
1. If you were on a trip and lost your way, what would be the first thing you would do? In what way is Abraham’s attitude one that will help us in overcoming habits and addictions? Read Hebrews 11:8-12 and see if anything there helps answer this question.
2. If someone you knew was just starting on their journey with God, what would be your first piece of advice? How would you relate that to a person who is on the journey of recovery?
3. Abraham listened to God and obeyed. What are some ways we can listen to God today?
4. Why is it significant that the Lord gave His promises in 12:2–3, 7 without conditions?
5. One of God’s promises to Abraham is that he would make his name great. Read the following passages to see how he is described.
Genesis 17:5
Genesis 23:6
Genesis 26:24
2 Chronicles 20:7
6. What does Joshua 24:2 tell us about Abraham's background? How do you think this background influenced Abraham's faith?
7. One of the first words God said to Abraham was “go”. Read Matthew 28:19-20 and contemplate what the faith response to Jesus should be and whether or not this is obeyed today.
Next Week’s Sermon Text: Genesis 39:1-23
________________________
Resources
Arterburn, Stephan and David Stoop. The Life Recovery Bible, NLT. Tyndale, 1998.
Chambers, Oswald. Not Knowing Where. Grand Rapids: Discovery House Publishers, 1989.
LifeChange. The Navigators. (2013). LifeChange: Genesis (p. 95). NavPress.
Wesley, John. Notes.
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/notes.ii.ii.xiii.ii.html
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: The
Pentateuch. David C. Cook, 2001.
