A GREAT ADVENTURE

Gen. 12:1-2

 

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’  So Abram left, as the LORD had told him . . .”

 

This bit of Biblical history raises some pertinent questions:  Why does God use the people He does?  Why doesn’t He give them more information up front?  Why doesn’t He just use people where they are? 

 

First, why Abram?  One thing we know about Abraham is that he was a man of faith.  God needed a man who would hear his voice, believe what he said, and then act.  Clearly Abram HEARD God’s instruction.  The key point is his obedience.  “So Abraham left, as the LORD had told him.”  Do you ever ask, “why us?”  Same answer.  God needs a people who will not only believe.  He needs a people who will act.  I believe that’s who we are!

 

Second, why didn’t God give Abram more information?  He was asked to give it all up and “go to the land I will show you.”  Well, it would seem that God not only wanted a man who heard Him and believed; He wanted a man who would continue to listen.  God wants His servants to look to Him first and last and always for direction.  Also, we have to be honest; sometimes God takes His people through the fire in order to accomplish His purpose.  If He told us everything we might not go!  Adventuring with the Lord is not only faith-requiring, it is faith-building!

 

Third, why didn’t God just let Abram bloom where he was already planted?  Because God had a bigger better plan.  His purpose was not just to bless Abraham.  He wanted to make Abraham a blessing.   His plan was big enough to touch “all peoples on earth.”  Does God desire to bless us?  Yes He does.  But even more, God wants to make us a blessing.  How many will God touch through us?  I don’t know, but let’s go see!

 

As Stephen Curtis Chapman put it:

Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze

Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace.

Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown;

This is life like no other; this is the great adventure.”

 

Pastor Keith Andrews