The Blessing to Abram
by Ivan Kalabric
Advent Devotional ~ Day 4
Read Genesis 11:29-12
The ending of the 11th chapter of the book of Genesis introduces Abram as a child of migrants. His father, after some tragic family events, sets out from the Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. He never makes it, instead he settled in Haran. Abraham is portrayed as what we would today call, a third culture kid. He has left what he once knew and followed his father into the unknown, Abram had a gift of leaving everything behind. He had a gift of faith, a gift of trust.
He has surely been through a lot and after some calm, Abram is called to a journey, a journey of faith, to which we often refer to as a blessing of Abram. But, is it really a blessing in a sense as we expect a blessing to be? Interestingly enough, Abram is called to leave “his” country and “land of his kindred” and to go where his father once set out to go, the land of Canaan. Abram’s calling has two commands, he is called to “go out” and to “be a blessing” to others. Everything else in Genesis 12:1-3 is a promise given to him.
Now, let’s look at the journey of Abram. His journey is one of discomfort, he is called to leave everything that he once knew and to step into the unknown. This journey is one of trust too or justification by faith. Abram is invited to trust and to depend upon God, and we know that without faith, or better translated trust, it is impossible to please God. Finally, Abram's journey is a journey into the covenant with God. It starts with obedience, but it is followed by promises. For two commandments that Abram had to obey, six promises, six “I will” phrases followed. It is a journey into the covenant relationship and Abram paves a way into it.
Reflection
In the world we live in today, we function through contract relationships, which are based on reciprocal obligations, rather than trust. We measure our happiness, joy and contentment by the level of comfort we can attain with material treasures. Our journeys are often journeys of trust and dependence on our own resources, abilities, opportunities set before us, rather than trust in God and His unfailing promises. The good question then would be, where do we see God at work?
Application questions
1. As we look back into the year behind us, what do we focus on? Is it our own journey or the fact that, however it went, thus far God has led us?
2. As we look forward into the year ahead of us, make New Year resolutions, plans and as we dream, what is our measuring rod? Is it the extent of our resources and abilities or the amount of God’s promises that we can stand on?