What type of person makes a difference in this world? Thomas Carlyle wrote, “No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” As we consider great men, Abraham is recognized as an individual who has made a difference in history. Abraham’s commission from God is known as the Abrahamic Covenant,
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; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Abraham was called to leave his country and his friends to go an unknown land. He was comfortably settled in his home town but he left it all to follow God’s plan. Has God ever called you to leave the safe and familiar and step out in faith into the unknown? It can be rather disconcerting, but when we step out in faith we see God fulfill His promises. Abraham’s obedience was rewarded as he was promised a land, offspring who would become a great nation, and a blessing.
What lessons can we learn from Abraham’s commission from God?
- Abraham was able to hear from God. Our lives can be filled with so many distractions that we don’t have the time or energy to hear from God. Good can often be the enemy of the best. What good things in your life are crowding out your time with God?
- Abraham stepped out in faith. This is not easy, we have a tendency to stay with the safe and secure rather than to step out into the unknown. Abraham demonstrated a radical obedience to God and his trust in God is why he is known as a man of faith.
- Abraham was blessed to be a blessing. How has God blessed you to be a blessing? The tragedy is that we have a tendency to think of what we don’t have rather than what we do have. You’re more inclined to consider your blessings when you’re not striving to get what you want, but rather you’re content with what you’ve got.
When God blesses you, He always has more than you in mind. You may be thinking, “I don’t see how I can be a blessing to others, I’ve failed so many times” or you may think “I’m too old.” Nothing is too difficult for God. Moses was eighty years old when God called him from the backside of the desert to lead a nation into freedom. The nation of Israel had left God but the prophet Zechariah let them know that failure would not disqualify them from being a blessing to others,
‘It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’ (Zechariah 8:13)
There is an African proverb the tells us, “There is only one crime worse than murder on the desert, and that is to know where the water is and not tell.” Take courage and be a blessing to others.
Associate Pastor – Discipleship. The Church at LifePark
Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University
Follow me on twitter: rickhiggins5
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