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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 48

"But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend." Isaiah 41:8

Text: Genesis 12:1-20

STARTING OUT AT SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE

One is never too old to commence a walk of faith with God! Enoch began his significant walk of faith with God at sixty five years of age (Cf. Genesis 5:21-22). With maturity that often comes with age, one’s walk with God can be even more distinctive.

Abraham received a call from God at seventy five years of age (Genesis 12:4). What a significant faith he cultivated from that time forth! It is possible to cultivate faith – at any age! It is possible to have a gloriously significant faith! This is a thought that must be borne in mind as we commence our study of the life of Abraham.


THE WORD OF GOD

How God actually communicated with Abram, we were not told exactly. Nevertheless, Abraham believed that he had a distinct word from Him.

“Now the Lord had said to Abram:
‘Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth
shall be blessed.’ ”

GENESIS 12:1-3

What a message this was from God! It would take nothing less than genuine faith to respond to this Word.

1. The Promise of Blessing

Even if one were to have a cursory comprehension of the promise of blessing, that would cause the hair to stand on end in excitement! Imagine God offering such a promise to a man! All that a man could ask for would be contained in this promise of blessing! There was the promise of becoming a great man, with a great name! The blessings would flow so mightily that all the families of the earth would be blessed! Could such a blessing of such extensiveness be given to a man?

2. The Challenge to Respond in Full Obedience

God’s promise to Abram was contingent upon his obedience. Faith and obedience are inseparable. If one speaks of faith in God, there must be the fruit of obedience! God’s Word always compels obedience!

Would Abram be able to obey God fully? He had already left Ur of the Chaldeans, a rich city. Would he be able to leave Haran, his family and obey what he believed as God’s special word to him? He could not prove to anybody’s satisfaction that God had indeed spoken to him. He would have to possess genuine faith to fully obey!