Blessings Beyond Borders

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3)

Think for a moment about what the world was like as Abram was growing up. It was entirely devoid of God's Word and was chaotic, violent, and dangerous. It was in this setting that God's gaze fell upon Abram, selecting him to be the conduit for His redemptive plan. In a world full of evil, God saw in Abram a heart receptive to His voice, a vessel through which His Word would be proclaimed to all nations.

God told Abram: “I will make of thee a great nation”. God was foretelling the birth of Israel, and from the nation of Israel, all families of the earth would be blessed. Abram, one man, listened to and obeyed God’s voice and it changed everything!

Obedience to God's call will mean blessings that aren’t only immediate, but can affect generations. The results of obedience to God can go beyond the borders of your city, state, and nation and it can extend for many generations. Abram's obedience paved the way for a lineage that would be entrusted with the most spectacular and sacred task ever assigned: the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Abram's journey in trusting God and following Him should make us think about our own responses to God's call in our lives. Are we living as willing vessels, prepared to follow God even when we don’t fully understand? Our actions today can shape destinies, alter atmospheres, and change generations. Our decisions of faith usher in God's Kingdom on earth.

Practical Application

God has a divine plan for your life if you will take the time to listen and follow. He plans to not only bless your life, but to go beyond your borders and use your obedience to affect multitudes through His power. Listen, and when the Holy Spirit asks you to give, to speak or to act in faith, follow immediately.

Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4

Collective Disobedience

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:11-13)

Genesis 6:11-13 describes the human condition before the flood. The earth, once a testament to God’s creative ability and power, became a canvas for human corruption, depravity, and violence. The place that was once full of worship was filled with self-indulgence and fleshly hate. Yet, even in this bleak landscape, while God exercised judgment, He also showed His mercy.

God found a man who was still full of faith, despite the cultural norms of his day. God shared His plans of destruction and salvation with Noah.

God does not make light of collective disobedience such as was happening at that time. Such rebellion brings serious repercussions. God warned there would be a natural consequence for humanity’s united disobedience. However, God also highlighted His desire to bring safety, security and blessings to those who continued to stand in faith.

This story of Noah’s flood provides us with an opportunity to examine our own hearts and actions. Are we acting in faith, in fear, or simply following the way of the world?

God calls us to embrace faith, even when it makes little sense to other people. What God told Noah would never have been accepted in the society that surrounded him. Many times, what God has told you will transcend your own understanding. The world won’t accept what God tells you, and maybe even your friends or family won’t. Still, we should cultivate a heart that is pursuing God's will. Don’t blindly follow the ways of the world around you.

Practical Application

Take time to think about what you are thinking about. Does your view of the news, politics, or other people stem from God’s Word and God’s will, or from the culture or world around you? Decide not to cling to any view that is not found in God’s Word.

Ezekiel 8:17; Genesis 7:1

The Weight of Unbelief

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)

Genesis 3:6 opens with Eve standing at the precipice of the greatest decision she would ever make when she was confronted with the desire to partake of the forbidden tree. The serpent's cunning words, dripping with deception, distorted God's truth and enticed Eve to doubt God's Word and His intentions.

During this moment of vital decision making, Adam was silent. He saw the entire interaction between the serpent and Eve, yet he didn’t speak, act, or provide a word of concern or challenge to Eve. He was passive when he should have been actively engaged. His inaction, his failure to intervene, paved the way for Eve's dangerous choice, sending humanity into a future affected by sin and separation from God.

Eve's decision to prioritize the serpent's words over God's command, followed by Adam's choice to prioritize Eve over God’s Word, shows us the profound consequences of unbelief.

This incident should cause us to consider our own ways. Are we, like Adam, passive observers, failing to intervene, or to speak up and address words of caution when we are prompted by the Holy Spirit? Or will we stand as sentinels of the Word of God, declaring His Word and His Way to the world?

Are we, like Eve, swayed by the world's deception of sin, walking away from God’s Word for what seems good at the moment?

God has called you to walk by faith and to follow the pull of the Holy Spirit. When we believe the narrative of the world over God’s Word, acting on unbelief will always have negative consequences in our lives and the lives of those around us.

Practical Application

Who has God placed in your life that is not following God’s direction or God’s Word? Pray today about what the Holy Spirit would have you do or say to help them come back to faith in God and make bold steps to follow Him. Do not follow the ways of Adam and just let them fall to their flesh when you could offer a word that changes everything.

1 Timothy 2:14; 1 John 2:16