A few years ago, my church did the Beth Moore Bible study, “The Patriarchs,” which studied Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
My hubby was in the army then, and we were preparing for another move back to Germany. As I led this study, God showed me that he was calling me to something bigger, just like he had called Abram thousands of years ago.
If you’ve ever taken a Beth Moore Bible study, you know how detailed she gets and how much you study your Bible. I hope you’ve had a chance to study the Patriarchs, so this will be a review. If not, join me down the memory trail.
Abram and his wife lived in Ur with his father’s household. Many believe Ur was 220 miles from modern-day Baghdad in southern Iraq. Ur was a wealthy metropolis in Mesopotamia. Two Harbors brought life from the Euphrates. Ur had impressive educational facilities that boasted elaborate writing systems, mathematical geniuses, extravagant business records, and a highly practiced religious life.
In this place, God appeared to Abram and said to him,
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:1,3
The Bible doesn’t tell us much about his life before God called him; we know about the area he lived in and can guess that he and his family followed the religious practices there. I liked a comment from Beth. She said, “We have no biblical reason to believe Abram and Sarai were looking for another god, but God was undoubtedly looking for them.”
Imagine with me. We are Abram, and life as we know it is good. It would be nice to have a child, but we have lots of family around us. Then, one day, a stranger comes to you and begins a conversation. “Go from your country to a place far away and leave your family.”
At first, you might feel uncomfortable, but then a peace you have never felt before settles over you. You don’t quite understand what is happening or who you are talking to, but everything seems right as this stranger continues speaking. You know in your heart you are about to have a new life.
https://lorinewbauer.com/finding-your-unique-gifts-calling-and-purpose/Why did God call Abram to be the father of nations? What was so different about him at that time among all the people on earth? I think it was deep in his heart. All those around him worshiped other gods, but Abram may have felt something profound, such that these other gods were so empty that they had nothing to give.
So, Abram’s spirit said no thanks to them and waited for something or someone to fill it. When God came to Abram in all his glory, his spirit was unhindered by the other gods. He wasn’t worshiping any other God, and he was ready for God to come and fill him. So, when God said, “Leave and go,” Abram just had to go because God was filling him up, and he needed God.
Abram and his family left Ur and stayed for a time in Haran. No one knows why they lived there, but it was where Abram’s father would pass away, allowing Abram, Sarai, and Lot (Abram’s nephew) to continue to Canaan.
When they arrived in the land, God appeared to Abram again and told him where he stood. He would give to his offspring, so he built an altar and worshipped God. Abram would travel to other places and build an altar to worship each time.
Life was difficult in this new land. Soon after arriving, a famine took over. So Abram and his family traveled to Egypt. There is no record of how long they stayed there, but a lie was told, wealth was given, and plagues befell Pharaoh. Then, the Pharaoh told Abram to take Sarah and leave.
The wealthy little family returned to Canaan, and his nephew Lot took his family and left. Lot then finds himself in trouble, but Abram saves him.
God wants to teach us to seek his will because what he gives us will always prove better. When God told Abram to leave, he left his country, his people, and his father’s house, and God blessed him. Then Abram and Lot separated, and God blessed him again.
God will test us, and sometimes that means separating from someone or something to see how far we are willing to trust Him. Once we have passed His test, He then pours out His blessing. But if we don’t let go of our old selves, we will not be able to have and receive His blessing.
Even though Abram and Sarai have no children, God assures them their son will be his heir. One night, God takes Abram outside to look at the stars and promises that his offspring will be as numerous as the stars. And he believed the Lord and counted it to him as righteousness.
God called Abram to leave everything—his country, family, and home —representing all he held dear: security, comfort, and enjoyment. Then God told Abram that he would bless him and make him a great nation.
God intended to bless all the families on earth through Abram, and he obeyed. Abram is our example of faith in action. It wasn’t always perfect, but it was exemplary. God directed Abram to go, and he went. He trusted and obeyed from the moment God called him. Abram’s journey was marked by trusting obedience, and he regularly paused to acknowledge his dependence on God.
To be continued.
To read Abram’s story, Genesis 12-50
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.12.1
Beth Moore, The Patriarchs: https://store.lproof.org/products/patriarchs-member-book
Read about Sarah here!
