“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 12:1-3
Just over half of the world’s religious population traces their spiritual lineage back to one person. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all consider Abram to be, in some way, a significant part of their cultural and religious heritage.
Abram and his family lived first in Ur and then moved to Haran, which is in modern day Turkey. God spoke to Abram and called him to go to a new home where Abram and his wife Sarai would give birth to a “great nation.” It was an amazing calling and promise given to Abram and Sarai. When they departed Haran, Abram was 75 years old.
Few people are looking to start over and move to a new place at age 75, but Abram and his family were called by God to go. They moved to a new land, a new home. It would be in this new home that they would have children for the first time in their lives. Abram and Sarai were willing to go. Because they trusted God, they became a blessing to all the world.
Because Abram and Sarai listened to God, and because they had faith in God’s gracious invitation for their lives, they were blessed. Setting out to find a new home, in a foreign land, at age 75 would bring fear to anyone. I am sure they experienced great anxiety, but their faith helped them remain steadfast.
God calls each of us to trust His gracious calling in our lives. God’s call is not limited by our age or location. We are called to trust, even in the face of fear and doubt. When we are willing to go as God calls, we will also be blessed and become a blessing, just as Abram and Sarai did so long ago.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
