AVAAT

A VERSE AT A TIME

TOPIC: OBEDIENCE ACTIVATES PURPOSE

TEXT: Genesis 12: 1-8

KEY VERSE: Abraham is your Father, so look at him. Look at Sarah, who gave birth to you. Abraham was alone when I called him. Then I blessed him, and he began a great family with many descendants.” Isaiah 51:2(ERV)

God called Abraham with the purpose of raising a great family through him. This family would have many descendants who would bless the entire world. To make this plan a reality, Abraham had to leave his family and home and journey to the place God would reveal. Even though the future God had in store for him seemed too good to be true, Abraham believed in it, and God considered it righteousness.

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” Abram built an altar to honor the Lord who appeared to him there. Genesis 12:7(ERV)

When God made a promise to Abraham, the Canaanites were already living in the land, and he had no children of his own. For Abraham to fully accept this divine plan, he needed to envision it. God assisted him by providing additional promises that clarified the plan and gave him the strength to pursue his Vision. The scriptures reveal and clarify God’s plans. All of God’s promises are enough for what we need to fulfil our Purpose.

Then God led Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky. See the many stars. There are so many you cannot count them. Your family will be like that.” Genesis 15:5(ERV)

God’s power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowing the One who called us to his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us valuable and superlatively great promises so that through them you might come to share in God’s nature and escape the corruption which evil desires have brought into the world. 2 Peter 1:3-4(CJB)

God’s purpose for you goes beyond your family, as it involves serving your generation. God will test your commitment to follow His plans throughout your faith journey. Abraham’s story is an excellent example of this. He had to wait for several years before he could see the birth of his son Isaac because having a child had become biologically impossible for him and his wife, Sarah.

Moreover, God asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice years after his birth. Abraham remained steadfast in his faith despite these challenges and passed these tests. As a result, God gave him even more reassuring promises because he fixed his eyes on God’s ability and integrity.

 The angel said, “You were ready to kill your only son for me. Since you did this for me, I make you this promise: I, the Lord, promise that  I will surely bless you and give you as many descendants as the stars in the sky. There will be as many people as sand on the seashore. And your people will live in cities that they will take from their enemies. Every nation on the earth will be blessed through your descendants. I will do this because you obeyed me.” Genesis 22:16-18(ERV)

God tested Abraham’s faith. God told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed because he had faith. He already had the promises from God. And God had already said to him, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will come.” But Abraham was ready to offer his only son. He did this because he had faith. He believed that God could raise people from death. And really, when God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, it was as if he got him back from death. Hebrews 11:17-19(ERV)

Abraham did not live long enough to see all of God’s promises fulfilled during his lifetime. However, his son, Isaac, inherited those promises. To enjoy those promises, Isaac had to obey God’s instructions. Similarly, when we respond to God’s call to live purposefully, we must follow specific instructions to align with God’s plan.

The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine.

   Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways,

  and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9(ERV)

The Lord spoke to Isaac and said, “Don’t go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I commanded you to live in. Stay in this land, and I will be with you. I will bless you. I will give you and your family all these lands. I will do what I promised to Abraham, your Father. I will make your family as many as the stars of heaven, and I will give all these lands to your family. Through your descendants, every nation on earth will be blessed. I will do this because your Father Abraham obeyed my words and did what I said. He obeyed my commands, my laws, and my rules.” Genesis 26:2-5(ERV)

Saul, the first king of Israel, was chosen by God for a specific purpose. However, he failed to fulfil it because he did not obey the Lord completely. It’s important to note that partial obedience is not acceptable to God. To live purposefully, we must be firmly determined to obey God in every aspect as He reveals His plans, just as Jesus did.

But Samuel answered, “Which pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obeying his commands? It is better to obey the Lord than to offer sacrifices to him. It is better to listen to him than to offer the fat from rams. Refusing to obey is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Being stubborn and doing what you want is like the sin of worshiping idols. You refused to obey the Lord’s command, so he now refuses to accept you as king.”1 Samuel 15:22-23(ERV)

Then I said, ‘Here I am, God.  It is written about me in the book of the law.  I have come to do what you want.'” Hebrews 10:7(ERV)

Despite not knowing how it would unfold, Mary aligned herself with God’s purpose through faith. She met Elizabeth, who encouraged and supported her in fulfilling her purpose. After Jesus’ ascension, Peter and the other apostles were unsure how to continue his mission. Still, they demonstrated their faith by waiting in the upper room for the “promise of the Father.” Abraham is a perfect example to look to. Remember, obeying God’s will one step at a time is the key to living a purposeful life.

Reflection Questions

1. What is God’s plan for your life? 
2. What’s holding you back from believing? 
3. Who can help encourage your faith? 
4. Which promises must you cling to to stay aligned with God’s path?

Photo by Jamie Templeton on Unsplash