The Call of Obedience
(Genesis 12:1-7)
(Genesis 12:1-7)
“If God told you to do something, what would you have to move out of the way in order to obey?” – Pastor Billy R. Johnson.
We must put ourselves in a posture, already have our hearts open to simply obey. We do not know what is on the other side of that obedience. We are called to obey, and the story of Abram in Genesis 12 provides an example of someone who simply obeyed when he was told by God what to do. Without hesitation, excuses or waiting for what may seem like the appropriate time, Abram heard the Lord’s command and he obeyed. Abram also showed us that there are 4 things that will be required of us when we are called to obey, and meeting those requirements gets us one step closer to the purpose God has for us.
Genesis 12: 1 – 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.
Abram had to separate from what was familiar to him. He had to separate from the very things he was accustomed to, and obey what the Lord asked him to do, which was move from his land. You never hear Abram resist the command or say he must first do some tasks before he departs. The scripture says Abram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, and all their possessions and departed to a new land. Abram was in a sense, given a new identity. Often times, we don’t really know who we are until we identify with God. Abram’s purpose was tied into his obedience. He needed to be in a certain geographical place for that purpose to be fulfilled, but it was up to his initial obedience for all of God’s purposes in Abram’s life to be able to come to pass. Every place may not be conducive to what God has purposed for us. In this case, Abram needed to be in another land for his purpose to be fulfilled.
Genesis 12:4 – “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”
We must trust God and lean not to our own understanding. At seventy-five years old Abram departed, meaning to walk. God’s plan was to do something amazing, but Abram had to trust. It may be difficult to obey if you do not believe what is ahead of you is greater. We must trust the character of God, trust that He loves us enough.
“Abram did not delay…he simply obeyed the Lord. Are you trusting God?” – Pastor Billy R. Johnson.
Genesis 12: 2-3 – “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.”
In this scripture, God is indicating the plan He has for Abram. The plan is to make a great nation, make his name great, and bring forth blessings to all the families of the earth. God indicated that as Abram obeys and departs, he will be blessing him. Therefore, in order for anything to begin to happen, Abram has to first obey. After Abram’s initial step of obedience then God starts to work on the plan He has for Abram’s life. The call to obedience had to first be answered so that God could fulfill His Word. Additionally, when we take the first step and see God begin to work, this is an encouragement to take the next step moving into further obedience. When others see us in our obedience, it in turn encourages them to answer their own call to obedience.
“What do we need to do…or act on…pray for, trust God in? What step do we need to take? God is waiting on you.” – Pastor Billy R. Johnson.
Genesis 12: 7 – “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”
God said, to your descendants I will give this land, and Abram had not even had a child yet. So, at that moment, when he heard that promise from the Lord, Abram built an alter right away to worship the Lord. Abram heard the command, answered the call to obedience, and there was nothing left to do but worship.
In closing, answering the call to obedience is a part of our faith walk. The Lord is encouraging us to do a thing, and we must heed the word and simply obey in order for God’s purpose to begin in our lives.