The Lord Almighty- Part 14 & 15

Introduction

Let us continue meditating on our weekly topic Lord almighty and today let us meditate upon how the almighty led Abraham.

Calling

Hebrew 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

            We see Abraham receives a divine calling from the Lord almighty. This calling is something which is very exclusive. Abraham was obedient and upright in his life. The major reason for all the blessings of Abraham was his obedience. Abraham completely surrenders himself to the words of God without any hesitations and questions. In Hebrews 11:11 ‘Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.’ We understand that Abraham receives a miraculous blessings without questioning. Further we read in Hebrews 11:19 ‘Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.’ We see Abraham had an immense faith on the Lord almighty. Even in our lives, we might have a lot of questions on our promises. But today, we should learn the act of faith from Abraham. And also we need to make it a point to be genuine towards the calling of the Lord.

Obedience

Genesis 12:1 “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:”

            The Lord almighty gives a divine calling to Abraham and trains him on obedience. Though the Lord had asked him to leave the place, Abraham does not obey completely. We read in Genesis 11:31-32 ‘And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.’ The Lord asked him to go alone but he takes his people along with him. This caused a delay in Haran. In Genesis 12:4 ‘So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.’ As Abraham does not obey completely to the Lord almighty he faces a few loss in his journey. This act of including Lot displeased the Lord almighty. Therefore, the Lord separates them in Genesis 13:8,11 ‘And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.’

            Despite of all this, the Lord almighty blesses Abraham. We read in Genesis 13:14 ‘him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:’ The blessings of the Lord starts pouring on Abraham when Lord eliminates all insignificant things in his life. Though Abraham made some mistakes, the Lord did not leave half way. The Lord stays and makes sure he delivers what was promised on Abraham. Even in our lives, let us not be disobedient and let us make sure we adhere to the word of God.

Begins to bless

Genesis 12:2-3 “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.”

            Over here we see the Lord almighty starts to bless his servant Abraham. He was blessed in an abundant way that no man was blessed ever before. Abraham has an immense faith on all the promises. The Lord honored the faith of Abraham and blesses him abundantly. Abraham was blessed with all the blessings on earth. The name of Abraham became great among the nations. The Lord himself proclaims and elevates Abraham. This is made possible only because of the pure faith that Abraham had on the name of God.

Enables him to run

Genesis 20:1 “And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.”

            Over here we see Abraham journeyed to the South country. Initially, the journey of Abraham began with Lot. But later Lot was separated from the journey because of his wrongful acts. The journey of Lot was not according to God’s will. We read in I John 2:17 ‘And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’ When we make it a point to lead our journey according to God’s will, we shall not be forsaken. The Lord almighty will lead us till eternity. This is rightly recorded in I Thessalonians 5:24 ‘Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.’ Let not our journey end like Lot’s but a journey that continued like Abraham’s.

Changes our nature

Genesis 12:18 “And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?”

Genesis 20:2 “And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.”

            The above passages we read Abraham faces two similar incidents in his life. The way how Abraham reacts to these incidents were not acceptable. This revealed his carnal nature. We read in Genesis 12:12 ‘Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.’ This verse clearly reveals the reaction of Abraham when he was given under a crucial circumstance. The carnal nature of Abraham gets revealed due to his fear. This we read in Genesis 12:13 ‘Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.’ Here Abraham forgets that the Lord almighty who led him all these years will be able to deliver him in this situation. We the children of God should never forget our Lord when we face a problem. We need to firmly believe that the Lord who called us is faithful. We must never ever forget that the Lord almighty will deliver his children from any form of danger.

Fulfils his plans

Genesis 20:2 “And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.”

            In the above passage we can justify the act of Abraham as he attempts to save his wife. This might even sound strange for a few of us. Interestingly, the birth of Isaac was exactly one year from this incident. When we remain honest and truthful to the Lord almighty he saves his children. Even in that situation, the Lord almighty saves Abraham and Sarah. The Lord takes away all the hindrances like Abimelech in the life of Abraham. The Lord predestines and gives them Isaac and forms twelve tribes according to his purpose. Abraham’s choice might have landed him in trouble but the almighty intervenes for rescue. Even in our lives, let not our choices stand as an obstacle for God’s plans concerning us. Therefore, let us learn from the life of Abraham and obtain all the heavenly blessing from our Lord almighty. Amen.