Genesis 12:6-9

At the time Abraham arrived in the land it was occupied by other people, namely the Canaanites. God appeared to Abraham and promised to give the land to him, or more precisely to his offspring. So there were two key obstacles to the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, the fact that he had no children, and the fact that the land was occupied by others. When God gives promises to us there will often seem to be insurmountable hurdles in the way.

Abraham built on alter there. The alter was a reminder of the fact that God had appeared to him and spoken to him. There are times when God says key things to us, or does key things in our lives. These can be important markers in our lives, providing a kind of guidepost to keep us in the right direction. All sorts of things happen in life, but we need to make sure that we let our lives by guided by what God has done and what He has said.

Abraham moved on and built another altar, there he called upon the name of the Lord. This time the altar was marking the fact that Abraham was calling on the Lord, ie it was marking a key decision Abraham had made. The most important commitments we make are ones to trust and follow the Lord. Many things may happen that would seek to divert us from these decisions, but we must be persistent in following Christ.

Abraham then continued towards the Negev, a dry wasteland.