Acts 7:2 tells us that God spoke to Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he arrived at Haran. There is no clear indication whether this influenced his father's decision to leave Ur or not. Whatever the case, Abraham now had to leave Haran. Abraham had to leave his household, people and country. Sometimes we have to leave things behind and go to a new place in order for God to do something new in our lives.
Abraham was to go to the land that God would show him, at this stage God had not told him where He was taking him. The emphasis is more on what God would make of him. This is similar to Jesus calling the disciples. All He said was "follow me", He did not tell them where He was taking them, but He did tell them what He was going to make of them (fishers of men). Often we get concerned about the practical details of God's calling, when His emphasis is more on the work He will do in us.
Vereses 2 and 3 contain the great promise, the promise that Paul saw as being fulfilled in and through Christ, and of which we are now a part (Galatians 3:29). Abraham would be made into a great nation, he would be blessed, and his name would be made great. We are part of this promise. It is God's pupose that we are made into a great nation,that we be blessed, and that our names are made great. Sometimes we can react against this, thinking it is selfish or proud to seek such things, but this is because our concept of blessing and greatness are shaped by the world, not by Jesus' definition. If we have children then we want them to have a good name, to be people worthy of respect and honour. God wants the same for His children.
This is not the end of the promise. Abraham would be a blessing to others. Likewise it is God's will and purpose that we become a blessing to others. He would be protected by God. We do not need to fear the cursings of others, for they will only rebound upon them.
All the world will be blessed through Abraham, and we see this happening in the spread of the good news about Jesus Christ.
Abraham was to go to the land that God would show him, at this stage God had not told him where He was taking him. The emphasis is more on what God would make of him. This is similar to Jesus calling the disciples. All He said was "follow me", He did not tell them where He was taking them, but He did tell them what He was going to make of them (fishers of men). Often we get concerned about the practical details of God's calling, when His emphasis is more on the work He will do in us.
Vereses 2 and 3 contain the great promise, the promise that Paul saw as being fulfilled in and through Christ, and of which we are now a part (Galatians 3:29). Abraham would be made into a great nation, he would be blessed, and his name would be made great. We are part of this promise. It is God's pupose that we are made into a great nation,that we be blessed, and that our names are made great. Sometimes we can react against this, thinking it is selfish or proud to seek such things, but this is because our concept of blessing and greatness are shaped by the world, not by Jesus' definition. If we have children then we want them to have a good name, to be people worthy of respect and honour. God wants the same for His children.
This is not the end of the promise. Abraham would be a blessing to others. Likewise it is God's will and purpose that we become a blessing to others. He would be protected by God. We do not need to fear the cursings of others, for they will only rebound upon them.
All the world will be blessed through Abraham, and we see this happening in the spread of the good news about Jesus Christ.
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