“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
Our faith story is told through the lives of many unique people. Some were farmers, some shepherds, and some were fishermen. Most of them were ordinary people, with common struggles that are reflected in the Biblical stories. What makes most of these ordinary people ‘extraordinary’ is their faith in God. They trusted God when they heard God’s call in their lives. One of the most significant examples of faith in the Bible is Abram, who becomes known as Abraham.
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 and a new home. It would be in this new land that they would have children for the first time in their lives. Because they trusted God, they were blessed with a new home and family. Because they traveled on faith, 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.
As a people of faith, we must learn to trust God’s gracious calling in our lives. God’s call is not limited by our age or location. The foundation of God’s call in our lives is based in His gracious love for us all. We are called to trust, even in the face of fear and doubt, because of God’s great love. When we are willing to go, we will also be blessed and become a blessing, just as Abram and Sarai did so long ago.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
