Go to the Land which I will Show You
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April 29, 2012 |
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 Go to the Land which I will Show You
"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; 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.'" (Genesis 12:1-2)
God blessed Abram at the age of 99 saying, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations." (Genesis 17:4-5)
Abraham, the father of faith, enjoyed all kinds of blessings that people want to receive, including children, finance, health, and prolonged life. He was loved and recognized by God enough to be called 'a friend of God.' Moreover, God let him clearly know what would happen in the future. What was his secret to receive such amazing blessings?
1. Abraham completely believed in God and obeyed.
God wanted to give Abram blessing and said to him, "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; 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'."
God didn't tell him to leave his country and go forth after He appointed a certain good place. But He just commanded him to go to the land which He would show him. At that time, Abram didn't hesitate at all. For God told him to go forth from his country, he went forth without looking back and no regret at all.
And he even obeyed God's word that seemed impossible with human thoughts. When God told him to give his only son as a burnt offering, he obeyed only with 'yes' and 'amen.' Abraham gained Isaac, his precious son, at the age of 100 just as God had promised. But God told him to offer his son as a burnt offering. It meant killing his son, cutting him in pieces, separating bones from flesh, and offering it up in smoke to God.
If we use human thoughts, it is mind boggling. But Abraham just obeyed without any excuses or reasons for not obeying. He could obey with joy because he put complete trust in God who can revive the dead as written in Hebrews 11:19.
People profess their belief in God with their lips, but still doubt or complain. This is because they don't completely believe in God. We can obey when we believe in God from the bottom of our hearts. Abraham could offer Isaac, his only son as a burnt offering since he completely trusted God. God was delighted in his goodness, which came from his true faith in God.
In this way, God gives promises to His beloved children and leads them to the way of blessing. Anybody can receive God-given blessing when he believes in His word and obeys like Abraham.
For instance, what did God say to those who want to receive financial blessings? Malachi 3:10 says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows." Luke 6:38 also reads, "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
In addition to these, there are countless other expressions of blessing in the Bible. In the Word of God are all keys to receiving financial blessing, divine healing, and solutions of problems that seem impossible to solve. Therefore, when we completely believe in God's Word and act according to it, we can enjoy a blessed life like that of Abraham.
2. Abraham always practiced goodness in relating to people.
Abraham didn't seek his own benefit among people, but he sought their benefit. We can tell this character of his through his actions regarding his nephew, Lot.
Abraham lived together with Lot, his nephew. But their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. Abraham didn't assert his right as Lot's uncle but he let Lot choose the land he would dwell in. He said as written in Genesis 13:9, "Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left."
Then, Lot chose the land of Sodom that looked good to live because there was enough water. However, Abraham had no discomfort at all and just hoped that his nephew would enjoy the new land.
It's not the end of Abraham's goodness towards Lot. Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated in wars with neighboring countries, so all the goods and food supplies were taken away. Lot was captured and his possessions were taken. Hearing the news, Abraham put his own life at risk and led out his trained men, three hundred and eighteen of them, and saved Lot (Genesis 14:14-16).
Furthermore, Abraham pleaded earnestly to God to save Lot when God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah that had become filled with so much sin and evil. God saved Lot considering Abraham so that his heart wouldn't be broken (Genesis 19:29).
In such ways, the goodness of Abraham was revealed continually in his relationships both with God and men.
3. Abraham never changed in faith, obedience, or deeds.
God was very pleased with Abraham because Abraham showed his faith through obedience and deeds. In addition, his deeds of faith in God and obedience didn't change until finally through his faith, at the age of 100 he was able to have a son (Romans 4:18-22).
As written in Genesis chapter 24, Abraham told his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned to go to his country, Haran, and take a wife for his son Isaac. The servant said to Abraham, "Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?"
Abraham firmly answered in Genesis 24:7, "The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there." He meant that what the servant had to do was just bring the woman since God, who had already promised to give the Canaan Land, also prepared for Isaac's wife and would send her to him. The servant succeeded in quickly meeting the woman who would become the wife for Isaac just as Abraham had spoken. (Genesis 24:10-61)
Abraham kept God's Word in his heart and practiced it in ways like these. He didn't sway at all even in very difficult situations. God had searched for such a heart, so He made him the father of faith through trials.
Some people change if answers don't seem to come to them after they act according to the Word of God for only a short while. But Abraham didn't doubt or change but just believed that God's words would be absolutely fulfilled once God had spoken. He was consistent in faith, obedience, and deeds according to God's will.
That's why James 2:23 tells us, "… 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God." If you believe and trust God until the end and act according to His Word just like Abraham, there is nothing that you cannot receive from Him.
It is my sincere hope you will have a good heart like that of Abraham and completely trust and believe God and obey Him and I pray in the name of the Lord that in doing so you will enjoy all the different blessings that God gave to Abraham.
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