Series Introduction: 

Last week we finished a series called "Beginning and Blessing," which focused on the world's creation, the fall of man, the great flood, the re-creation of the world after the flood, and the birth of nations. To summarize, the world we live in looks a lot different than the one God created in the beginning. Ten generations separated Adam in the Garden of Eden from Noah and Flood. Another ten generations passed between the flood of Noah's generation and the Tower of Babel, where God dispersed humanity by languages across the globe. After the generation that constructed the tower of Babel, five additional generations passed until the birth of Abram a descendant of Shem, Noah’s son.

We are not given many details about Abram’s upbringing, except that he lived with his father, Terah, his brothers Nahor and Haran, and their wives and children. Abram, however, had no children or grandchildren to call his own. At the end of Genesis 11, we read that Abram’s wife Sarai was barren and unable to conceive. It seems that in God’s plan of redemption, Abram should have been a footnote. If God was going to fulfill his promise made back in Genesis 3:15, that a descendant of Eve would defeat Satan and undo the curse of sin, it would have to come from some other family. The good news for Abram and us is that God does not judge us on our ability but rather on our willingness to follow Him. The old saying is true: God does not always call the equipped but always equips the called. 

Scripture Reading: 

Genesis 12:1-9: Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.  Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

Opening Prayer: 

Father God, as we gather here today to dive into your Word, we humbly seek your presence and guidance. We ask for your wisdom to discern how these ancient accounts of faith still apply to our lives today. May your Holy Spirit illuminate our hearts and minds so that we may truly grasp the significance of Abraham's call and the faith-filled response that shaped his life. Ignite within us a desire to respond courageously to your call in our own lives, stepping out in faith and obedience. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Belief and Trust:

This morning's passage highlights Abram's steadfast devotion to God and obedience to God's call in his life. Too often, we talk about faith as though faith was just belief in the truth of a statement. If I were to inquire about people's faith in God on the street, they would likely respond positively indicating that they believed in God. However, if I were to ask them to provide examples of how they have acted upon that faith they may find it difficult to identify specific instances what’s that faith lead to action. We are quick to forget that faith is more than just belief. Faith is belief and trust.

One of the big theological arguments people get wrapped up in is the relationship between faith and works in salvation. The Apostle Paul wrote:

"For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV

So that means our salvation is a gift rather than something we must work to achieve. Our salvation is not based on whether or not we do enough good things during our lifetime. 

But then we read the Apostle James, who wrote: 

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

James 2:14-17, ESV

Does that mean that Paul was wrong? Is faith not enough to save us if we do not also accompany it with good works? 

In Romans 4, Paul points to Abraham's life as evidence that we are saved by faith apart from works of the Law. However, James also points to the life of Abraham in James 2 as evidence that faith without action, is dead. What do we make of this?

The issue here is not with the scriptures but our understanding of faith. Throughout this study of the life of Abraham, you will notice a connection between faith and obedience. One can believe in God and not have a relationship with God. A person can know the Scriptures but not obey them. Satan knows without a doubt that God exists, and he can quote scripture better than anyone in this room. Still, Satan's belief is not faith because he does not submit to God or obey His commands: 

"You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!"

James 2:19, ESV

Our salvation comes from having faith in God, not from being a good person. Nevertheless, having true faith in God demands not only believing in God but also trusting in God. Trust leads to obedience; without obedience, there is no trust. A faith that does not trust is immature at best, and an insincere and lifeless faith at worst.

The life of Abraham shows us what it means to live a life of faithful obedience. Abraham was not perfect in his obedience, sometimes falling into patterns of sin, but at the same time he trusted in the Lord and walked with him to the best of his ability. Because of this, Abraham was counted as righteous and stands today as a model of what it means to live by faith.

The Command and the Promise

Our passage begins with God speaking to Abram while he is still dwelling in the land of his father’s house: 

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3, ESV

In this moment, we see both a command and a promise. The command was to leave the country Abram had lived in for most of his life. This would not have been an easy thing for Abram to do. For seventy-five years, Abram had only known life with his family. He had never lived apart from his father’s household. He had always lived with his brothers. He watched their children grow up and have their own children. Now, after seventy-five years, God was asking Abram to pack up his belongings and move to a land that God would show him.

Sometimes people describe a decision as “a leap of faith,” which is an appropriate metaphor for what faith feels like. God often calls the faithful to let go of what is comfortable and familiar and to step out (or leap out) into the unknown and unfamiliar. That leap of faith may look different for each of us, but I hope each of us knows what I am talking about. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that if obeying God feels difficult, that must be a sign that we are doing something wrong, but would say the opposite may be true. Growing faith will push you out of your comfort zone.

It is also important to realize that God was not giving Abram an option here. God does not say, "if you go…" God says "go," meaning that if Abram did not go, he would be disobeying God. In talking with people, I sometimes worry that we assume full obedience to God is optional for Christians. There are not two paths, one for the casual Christian and another for the extra-godly Christians who want to go deeper in faith. There is only obedience and disobedience, and when we realize we have fallen into disobedience, the only response for the true Christian is repentance leading to transformation and change.

Abram’s response to God's call exemplifies a spirit of readiness and unwavering faith. When God commanded him to leave his country and his father's house, Abraham did not hesitate. He exhibited an extraordinary trust in God's guidance, stepping into the unknown with complete surrender.

In the same way, Jesus beckoned his disciples with a straightforward command: "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19, 9:9). Peter, James, John, and Andrew abandoned their jobs as fishermen to become "fishers of men." Matthew gave up his lucrative tax-collecting businesses for the Roman Empire to serve the Kingdom of God. Many people abandoned their old lives to follow Jesus, convinced that life with Christ far outweighed any sacrifice that obedience to God required of them.

Sadly many also refused the call. These individuals believed, but only to a point. When faith required trust, commitment, and sacrifice, many walked away. In John 6 we read that many of Jesus' followers were leaving because Jesus' teachings were too difficult.

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"

John 6:66-67, ESV

Simon Peter, always the first to speak up, give one the best possible answer: 

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

John 6:68-69, ESV

I do not think the disciples who stayed had a better grasp of Jesus’ teachings or felt more capable of following Jesus than those who walked away. What separated the true disciples from the false disciples in this moment of doubt and confusion was that the true disciples chose to trust in Jesus. They recognized that even though the path was challenging, Jesus was the only one with the words of eternal life. They didn't kneed to understand how or why because they knew Jesus understood and he was going to be with them.

In the same way, Abram did not understand how God would keep His promise or even why God had chosen a man like him. He simply knew that God was good and always kept His promises. If God called, Abram would follow. If God said it, Abram knew it would be so. We should pray for a faith like this. When we learn to live lives of absolute trust and full surrender, I guarantee we will see God work in and through us in amazing and miraculous ways.

When God calls us to take a leap of faith, our response should mirror the response of Abram. It is natural to experience fear and uncertainty, but we must remember that God's plans are far greater than our own. Genuine faith will often require surrender and sacrifice on our part. The comforting truth is that, like Abram, if we act in faith upon God's guidance and provision, we can do so knowing that His promises never disappoint. As we continue to follow God's commands, He will lead, bless, and fulfill His promises in our lives.

Abram was not a perfect man, and his failures along his journey of faith would have consequences. Still, throughout his journey, Abraham's heart remained open and receptive to God's direction. Abram's readiness to be guided by God allowed him to grow in patience, obedience, perseverance, and faith. In the same way, when we align our hearts with the Spirit of God at work in us, we will learn what it means to walk in faith. We will find that the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, kindness, and more—begin to flourish within us. It will not always be comfortable, but it will start to feel more natural. As we grow into a life of faithful obedience, we will also begin to experience true transformation, becoming vessels of His love and grace in the world.

Abram's faith was unwavering because when God spoke, he believed. Faith means trusting God even before His promises are fulfilled. Since God is incapable of lying or deception, He deserves our complete trust. Abraham believed in God's promise solely based on God's word, without requiring any physical evidence. He trusted God's nature and character. This is one reason why it is so important to grow in our knowledge of God. Knowing who God is makes it easier for us to have confidence in Him, no matter the situation. Even though Abraham hadn't received any tangible evidence, he wholeheartedly believed in God's promise. In contrast, we who have received so much from God often struggle to trust Him completely. Our present time is a long-awaited period that the ancient prophets eagerly anticipated. We possess the witness of the scriptures and more than two millennia of church history, which consistently demonstrate God's faithfulness. Even so, we still find it challenging to trust in His promises. Brothers and sisters, if Abram can step out in faith like this, so too can we. 

God had promised Abram a land to live in. This land was not just for Abram and his wife, but for their descendants yet to come. God swore to Abram:

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Genesis 12:2-3, ESV

God promised Abram that he would become the father of a great nation and guaranteed that his name would be remembered throughout history. This was a mighty promise to make considering that Sarai, Abram’s wife, was beyond childbearing years and had been unable to conceive a child even in her youth. I do not doubt that Abram had come to believe that he would die childless. Prior to this moment, he believed that he would live out his days among his brother’s families, his nieces and nephews and their children. Having no children of his own, his lineage would end with him and his name would be a forgotten branch of a family tree, if he were remembered at all. 

It would take a miracle for Sarai and Abram to have a child, but because God said it would come to pass, Abram believed. Not only would Abram have a son, but that son would have children of his own and those children would multiply into a blessed nation. Those who blessed the descendants of Abram would be blessed, and any who cursed the descendants of Abram would be cursed because God would be with this people. 

It's understandable why the Jewish people, who are descendants of Abraham, feel a strong connection and pride in the promises made to him. They often proclaim themselves as "children of Abraham." However, it's important to remember two things whenever we reflect on this covenant promise. 

First, we must remember that God did not bless Abram and his descendants for their own sake. They were blessed to be a blessing. The promise ends with the statement, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, ESV). Throughout the Old Testament, and even into the New Testament times, the Jewish people had a tendency to forget that they were called to be a holy example to the world around them. Nations were to look to Israel as an exemplar of what it means to be a nation who loves the Lord and walks by faith. While the people after fell short of this calling, it was through the family of Abraham that Jesus the Messiah came into the world. The good news of salvation from sin and death came to us in and through a Jewish Messiah, and so in a greater sense we have already seen how all the world has been blessed by the faithfulness of this one man.

In the same way, we as Christians - citizens of the Kingdom of God - are not blessed to keep our blessings to ourselves. We are called to shine brightly in this dark world so that God’s name would be praised and so that people far from God might draw near to God through our word and our example. 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9, ESV

Never forget that you are blessed to be a blessing. 

The second thing, we must remember that because of the work of Christ, the true children of Abraham are not those united by blood, but by faith. When John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness, he warned his Jewish audience: 

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”

Matthew 3:8-9, ESV

Later, during the earthly ministry of Jesus, John records a moment when Jesus was teaching about how he, as the Son of God, was able to set people free from sin. Someon spoke up the crowd to tell him “Abraham is our Father,” as if to say that because they are of Abraham’s lineage they have no need of a salvation. Jesus then tells his listener, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abrahm did” (John 8:39, ESV). In this way, Jesus taught that a life of faith is what truly makes us a part of God’s family.

If we cease to live by faith, and cease to be a blessing to others in word and example, we should not be surprised to learn that our faith was not really faith at all. The Jews might say “Abraham is our Father” and the Christians might say “Jesus is Lord” but if these are mere words that do not shape the way we live, they are empty proclamations. I hope and pray that we can be known as a faithful people, not just in our words, but also in our actions. As we live in obedience to the Lord, may He shower us with blessings, which we can in turn use to bless others.

Conclusion: 

As we conclude our sermon, let us take a moment to reflect on God's past faithfulness, both in the scriptures and in our own lives. When God calls us to step out in faith, let us respond with unwavering obedience, knowing that His plans for us are far greater than we can ever imagine. Though uncertainty may surround us, let us not be swayed by fear or doubt, but rather let our hearts be filled with the assurance that God's goodness knows no bounds. Trust in His provision, lean not on our own understanding, for He is the one who holds our future in His hands. Let us step forward with boldness, without hesitation, knowing that our trust in God will never be in vain. May we become a people who are known for our unwavering faith, shining a light in this world as we surrender to His perfect will. In Him, we find true security, peace, and an unwavering anchor for our souls. 

As we enter our time of decision, I encourage you to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and respond accordingly. Let your heart be open to His calling and guidance. Let us pray. 

Prayer of Decision: 

Father God, we come before you this morning to pray for faith. You often call us to step out in faith, to leave the familiar and comfortable behind and to take leaps of faith. Help us to cast aside our fears and doubts, and to embrace the calling You have placed upon our lives. Give us the strength to surrender our own plans and ambitions, and to fully trust in Your perfect will. Just as You promised to bless Abram and make him a blessing to others, we pray that You would pour out Your favor upon us as we step out in faith. Open doors that no one can shut, and provide for every need along the way. Give us the courage to persevere, even when the path seems difficult or unclear. Let our lives become a testament to Your power and grace, as we walk in the footsteps of Abram, following Your leading with unwavering faith. We surrender our plans, dreams, and desires into Your hands. Guide our steps, light our path, and be our constant companion along this journey of faith. Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith, as we take each step with confidence, knowing that You are with us. In the name of Jesus, who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, we pray. Amen.