Foundations Week 2, Day 3

Scripture Read:  Genesis 11 -12
Title: God's Promise to Abraham
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse::  "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you... Abram went forth as the LORD had commanded him, and Lot with with him."  (Genesis 12:2, 4))

(E) Explain:  In Genesis 11, we are introduced to Abram (later called Abraham) who is a considered the patriarchal father of the nation of Israel.  Abram was a man who lived in an area called Ur of the Chaldeans with his father, brother, sister-in-law, nephew Lot, and his wife Sarai.  One day the LORD spoke to Abram and told him to "Go away from your country and your kindred  and your father's house to the land that I show you.  And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."  In this passage we see many things happening. 

1. God calls Abram to go somewhere unspecified.  I often wonder why God chose Abram of all people.  According to the Jewish Study Bible, one possible reason is, "In Second Temple and rabbinic sources , various details of Abraham's early life are filled in, and he sometimes appears to be the first monotheist, discovering the one true God even before God calls him."  Another possible reason is that Abram was a faithful and obedient man of God.. 
2. God says that He will bless Abram by making him a great nation  and making his name great so that he will be a blessing to all the families of the earth.
3. God says He is going to give or assign him some land that he and his descendants will one day inherit.
4. Abram was obedient and did as the LORD commanded him. 

Abram was the recipient of a promise made by God that He kept for thousands of years and his response to God was to build altars of worship as a reminder to the promises of God.  These promises would not be fulfilled for a long time, but Abram believed that God would follow through with his promises..  

(A) Application: When God calls me to go and do, I better be ready to respond in obedience.  I know that in comparison to this world and even the universe  that I am insignificant and small.  However, this does not mean that I am insignificant and small in God's eyes.  He does have a plan and purpose for me and I need to be faithful to seek it out and be obedient to follow it.  

(R) Respond:  God, when you speak, may I listen?  May I not only listen, but may I respond in obedience and faith.  Where you go, I will follow, when and where you call me, I will go.