21 June 2021

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 make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 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 shall be blessed.’

Genesis 12:1-9, NRSV

Until this point, the Book of Genesis has dealt with the “big” stories of Creation, The Fall, The Flood etc. Now we have a seemingly much smaller focus on the person of Abram and his wife Sarai. It is probably fair to say that until this point, Abram had not done anything of particular note. However, God made a promise to Abram that would have far reaching consequences. Abram was to become the father of a great nation and his name was to become so great that it would become a blessing. To Abram, this would have seemed an incredible, even improbable. promise. He was not a young man and his wife was known to be barren, so it was not easy to understand how Abram was to become the father of a great nation. Yet Abram was obedient to God’s instruction. He and Sarai left the relative comfort of their lives to live for many years as nomads. God kept his promise and Abraham and Sarah, as they became, are names of honour not only for Christians but for Muslims and Jews. God’s blessing was not only for his sake and that of his family but for the whole world.

• • Why do you think Abram was prepared to follow the Lord’s instructions?
  • Are you aware of any other examples of how God has achieved great things through unexpected people or circumstances?

You may like to find out more (or refresh your memory) of the remarkable story of Abraham and Sarah. A summary can be found at www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/abraham-and-sarah-bible-story.html