How many years did it take Abram to obey?
When his father died, Abram travelled toward Canaan and the promise of GOD. But although he was meant to go alone, and took his nephew with him. He wasn’t prepared to go on his own.
Fortunately, after many years and much travel, Abram finds freedom at last…
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Abram finally settles down
Genesis 13:18 reads, “Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.”
I’m sure there is significance of the terebinth trees, Mamre and Hebron. But I simply what to focus on two things: the tent he erected and the altar he built.
The tent
The tent that Abram had been carrying, moving, and living in, he finally sets down in Hebron (which we know is a part of what is now Israel). Abram had been promised the land as far as the stars he could see, and much as the grains of sand. And now he’s taking ownership.
At last, he is going to settle in one spot, alone. He has his wife, as a co-companion, flesh of his flesh. But his nephew is gone, and as GOD had instructed initially, he is ‘alone’.
The altar
Abram recognises he’s finally “home” and so he sets up an altar. Remarkable after all this time, and all this travel, that he is finally settling in one place. He marks it with a tribute to the Lord who has led him there.
And so what is our tent, what is our altar?
GOD has given us this story for more than the reason of docmenting history…
Is there anything the LORD has asked you to do, or not to do, and you’ve not yet got on board? Remember, He does love obedience.
How many times have I delayed or ignored GOD’s prompting? The longer I walk with GOD, the more I learn to respond promptly. But still there are gaps. How about you?
If GOD called you out today…
How long would it take you to organise, pack and set off, if the LORD asked you to drop everything and “Go!”?
So often we say we want to go for GOD, but there are things that hold us back. What did Jesus say to the man with the plough?
What is our altar?
We may proclaim to friend, family and even to GOD that we are sold out for Him; we want to follow wherever and whenever He leads. We may mean what we say absolutely sincerely, but are we ready and able to respond to His call?
What do we need to let go of to follow GOD’s call?
Family? Friendship? Career?
There is no shame in having a passion. But we need to be able to lay it on the altar of GOD. When we give it to Him, then we are free… free within our family, free within each of our relationships, free in our ambitions, interests and hopes.
Freedom comes from laying things on the altar.
Abram’s altar is a signpost for us
When Abram finally built an altar to the Lord, after years of “sort of doing what GOD wanted”, he was finally free to become the man GOD had created him to be.
It took a long while. But GOD recognises character. It took Abram a long time. It may take us a long time. But GOD calls on those whom He loves, and He knows the character He has placed within us. If He’s called us, then we know, with His help, we can “do all things through Christ who gives us strength.” (Philippians 4:13)