In a recent small group Bible study that I am leading, the conversation involved generational patterns in our lives. For instance, our family of origin can positively or negatively impact how we deal with human emotions such as anger, sadness, or loneliness. I believe that risk taking and faith are impacted in much the same way. When I read the account of God’s call of Abram in Genesis 12, I thought about Abram’s family of origin. Abram’s father, Terah, relocated his entire family from Ur (in modern Iraq) to Haran (modern Turkey). He did this at an apparent old age and died in Haran at age 205 (Genesis 11:32).
Perhaps it was the positive influence of his earthly father that helped Abram to step out on faith when God called Abram to “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1, NRSV). The text reports that Abram went. He gathered up all his family and at age 75, he went. And they traveled until they came to the land of Canaan where Abram again heard the voice of the Lord. After building an altar there, he moved on to Bethel and then a famine caused them to travel to Egypt.
Some people have risk-taking and faith within their emotional and generational DNA. They will just go. Others, perhaps most of us, take some persuading. We hear the voice of God but we are slow to trust. The good news is that God calls both kinds of people to serve. This text is a reminder that regardless of our generational DNA, we can trust God’s promises. God offers divine promises to Abram at least six times, e.g. “I will show you” and “I will bless you.” We can claim these words of promise as we hear and respond to God’s call in our lives today! Blessings, Pastor Bob
daily devotions
Thank you for these wonderful daily devotions. I pray that they will fill our hearts with His Word and His direction each time we read them. May the Lord continue to bless you and fill you with His wisdom.
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