Monday, 12 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Kathryn Kerridge [a] and posted in Abraham

The Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1

Abram's faith wasn't only demonstrated by the fact that he left his home for the unknown as God had asked.

What blows my mind is that he did it so quickly! He doesn't even demand that God first answer a pile of questions about how, what, where and why.

Faith shows itself when we obey God... quickly. Don't dither around until you have all the answers!

Tuesday, 13 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Kathryn Kerridge [a] and posted in Abraham

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So Abram built an altar there to the Lord... Genesis 12:7

Abram was now on the road passing through a land already occupied by a powerful nation of people when God promises to give this land to Abram's descendants.

What does Abram do? He doesn't ask God how or when, or dwell on the unlikelihood of this based on current circumstances.

No, he immediately builds an altar and worships the God for whom all things are possible.

Wednesday, 14 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Kathryn Kerridge [a] and posted in Abraham

As he was about to enter Egypt, Abram said to his wife Sarai..., "Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." Genesis 12:11 & 12:13

Oh, Abram! How do you go from acting in such faith to hatching your own plan and asking your wife to lie?

Fear, that's how. Wasn't God able to keep Abram and his family safe? Of course He could! God can do anything!

Fear is the enemy of faith. It causes us to take our focus off God and do the daftest things.

Use faith to fight fear.

Thursday, 15 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Kathryn Kerridge [a] and posted in Abraham

But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharoah and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. Genesis 12:17

Pharoah thought Sarai was Abram's sister, so he innocently planned to marry her. God protected her, but Pharoah suffered badly.

I'm sure Abram was sorry for his lie, and he would have certainly learned a valuable lesson about consequences.

When we try to do things our way instead of God's way, other people can get hurt, and that hurts God, too.

Friday, 16 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Kathryn Kerridge [a] and posted in Abraham

Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. Genesis 13:2

Abram had left his homeland and security behind to obey God's direction.

God honoured Abram's faith (even after his lie) and provided for him and his family.

Following God doesn't always mean wealth and riches (sometimes it might mean quite the opposite!), but God has promised to provide for our needs and often throws in "extras" to bless us as well.

Saturday, 17 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Kathryn Kerridge [a] and posted in Abraham

Then the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "A son coming from your own body will be your heir." Genesis 15:4

Abram and Sarai were old and well-past being able to have children. In human terms, God was promising something that was not only absurd, it was impossible. No wonder Sarai laughed when she found out!

What was Abram's response? We are told that Abram believed the Lord, and God was very pleased.

Sunday, 18 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Kathryn Kerridge [a] and posted in Abraham

Then the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "A son coming from your own body will be your heir." Genesis 21:2

It was a bit of a rocky road between God giving Abraham the promise and when God fulfilled it, but that wasn't God's fault.

Abraham and Sarah wavered in their faith while they were waiting, and once again hatched their own plan of action, with some very serious consequences.

However, God is still God. He remains faithful to His promises and does not give up on us. His promise was delivered... right on time!