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.