Alpha and Omega, Part 17
Abram’s Belief for our Benefit
Genesis 12:1-9 (focus on vv.4-9)
Introduction
- 2023 has been led with “one purpose”: To know there is a God!
-- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; examining the beginning to the end
- Last week we saw our lead into God’s calling of Abram
• He was asked to turn away from his father’s country
• To turn away from his family, friends, relatives, and loved ones
• To also turn his back on his father’s household and his comfortable life
- Why? Because God promised Him three things if he did:
• He would inherit the promised land
• He would be given the promised seed of God’s people
• He would also be part of the promised seed of God’s Messiah (Jesus)
- This morning let’s see what obeying God’s calling looks like!
-- Abram gives us several encouragements; they center around living expectantly
-- How? By demonstrating how to obey even during life’s many challenges
- Let’s dive in … Read Genesis 12:1-9 / Pray
- TR: Our first point today is to set this truth firmly before us …
Point 1 – Abram believed God’s promise
- Cause: Abram believed what God told him
- Effect: Therefore, he did exactly what God told him to do!
- He knew this would come at a great cost, but his devotion to God was greater
-- Consider: All that God has done is known to him, why would he not obey?
- However, there are a couple of interesting things to note here
-- First, he was a mature man in age, 75 years old when God called him (v4)
-- Second, he was established, comfortable, and secure in his livelihood
-- Third, moving an entire household would’ve been a challenge for anyone
- But that is exactly what God’s word tells us he did
-- He did not debate God about it, didn’t argue or pray about it, just went
-- APP today: He did not find ways to make excuses to not obey God’s call
- Even though it would mean turning away from everything he knew
-- APP: To him, it was better to follow God’s prompting vs. his own desires
- Key discipleship moment (SEE): God’s calling is all it took for him to obey
-- Hebrews 11:8, “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.”
- Get this: Life is about hearing God’s word, God’s calling, to motivate us
-- Want to wake up? Dive into His word and see what He’s calling you to do!
-- Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”
- Look at 2 significant facts about Abram’s faith:
1. His faith was so strong even his wealth did not hold him back (v5)
-- In Haran is where his father would have amassed his life’s inheritance
-- It would have been safer for him to stay in that land and be comfortable
-- Why? Because he truly had no idea where he was going!
-- Yet, he didn’t do this half-baked – he dove in and obeyed God
2. His faith was so strong it endured until the end of his life
-- His life shows us that he was drawn to God, drawn to obedience
-- Somewhere, however, he got comfortable and stopped following God
-- RE: Genesis 11:31, Terah (his father), was on his way to Canaan
-- And now, God re-called Abram to continue his way – to reach Canaan
-- APP: His obedience was stirred, and he listened and followed God
- Interesting: It took some time, but Abram understood God’s promises
-- Perhaps there was moments in his life when God tried to call him
-- Perhaps there were too many complications (i.e., life noise) to HEAR
-- But right now, when God calls, Abram responds
- TR: He saw God doing something, building a new nation for Himself
-- This drew Abram from his comfort zone, but God was still teaching …
Point 2 – Abram had his faith tested
- Think for a moment: When he arrived in Canaan, what did he think he’d find?
-- Did he think it would be a land uninhabited and ready to be settled upon?
-- Would it be a land just waiting for new residents to settle within it?
-- Or was he expecting that there would be a people he’d have to overcome?
- Scripture doesn’t tell us, but we know when he arrived it was occupied (v6)
-- The Canaanites were a godless people, a settled nation comfortable in its ways
-- If he was going to claim this land, it would be difficult to overtake
- His Big Q: Had God led him to this land in error? Had he misheard God?
- He knew that before he could settle it, the godless people would be a problem
-- He knew that they would have to be removed/changed – but by whom?
- FACT: He came with his house, did not come with an army
-- Faith Opportunity: God led him, so God would have to complete (trust God)
-- However, what should he do in the meantime?
- Take a pause here … This passage is a beautiful analogy for the believer
-- FACT: When a person is saved, life’s challenges do not just evaporate
-- Yes, we are promised Heaven – but life still exists – Abram shows us this
- Even today, life will have challenges that seem insurmountable also
-- But remember: Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
-- 2023 APP: Just like Abram, the believer is a pilgrim on this Earth also!
-- We are being called to follow and obey God – even though life still comes at us!
- Our life is a pilgrimage of faith, just like what Abram is now experiencing
-- We are not instantly transported to Heaven, life’s problems all relieved
-- We too will struggle – life’s challenges do not get easier instantly
-- Promise for Christians: Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (Unpack…)
- TR: So how does Abram respond to this uncertainty before him?
Point 3 – Abram chooses to obey and worship God
- He makes a devoted decision – he will obey and follow God!
-- Action: He builds an altar (v7-8) so he can worship God!
- An altar can have many purposes – here are 7 critical uses for us today:
1) To offer sacrifices to God (to give Him honor and glory)
2) To rededicate to God – to give something to God (even yourself)
3) To seek God’s guidance or presence (do this in prayer and supplication)
4) To worship God (honor and praise for Him alone)
5) To acknowledge the Lord (thankfulness for what He is doing)
6) To praise God (to offer tribute for all that He is)
7) To testify to God (to bear witness to how good God is)
- APP: Everywhere he goes, he dedicates himself to God’s praise / honor
- Why? His commitment is unwavering (great lesson for us as well)
-- Wherever he went, he showed God what his priority was in life
-- The altar is / was a visual representation of what God has done
-- It is a place of invitation to talk to and gain strength from God
- When faced with difficulties, look at how Abram (father of faith) responds
-- This is how we are encouraged to respond also – even in uncertainty
Conclusion
- Do we follow God’s calling as He leads us?
-- Do we build altars for God? Even in our hearts, where He resides totally?
-- Do take time to reflect on what God has done? Do we follow obediently?
-- Do we allow ourselves to be recentered to God’s will and calling?
- Abram is a great example of faith in action – let’s dive in more next week
- Pray
