Years ago, my late husband and I owned and lived in one side of a duplex. The other side of the duplex was also owner-occupied. Our agreement with each other in the event either were to move included giving the other owner first chance at buying before listing.
We had moved to this duplex because we had gotten in over our heads on a single-family home financially. So, when our neighbor told me she was preparing to list her side of the duplex, I immediately sought God’s advice whether we should attempt to buy her out.
In my mind, it could have been an opportunity to have rental income to speed up our financial recovery. Provided we could afford the additional mortgage, that is.
When I sought God’s advice, I got the following response in that still, quiet voice that you know is not your own mind speaking: “No, you will be moving.”
Although startled by this response, I told our neighbor we weren’t interested in buying her side.
I’ll share more about this after we look at God asking Abram to move in Genesis 12:1-9.
How Obedient Are You? | A Study on Genesis 12:1-9
1Now 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.[i]
What command did the Lord issue to Abram?
2And 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.[ii]
List the details of the promise given to Abram.
3I 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.”[iii]
Explain the significance of the phrase “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse.”
How far beyond Abram is this promise intended to extend?
4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.[iv]
What is the significance of the phrase, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him?”
5And 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, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.[v]
Using Genesis 11:27-32 and the details of the promise given to Abram, why is Lot, Abram’s nephew mentioned in both verse four and five?
7Then 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.[vi]
Compare how the Lord engaged with Abram at the beginning of this set of verses versus the one above.
Why did Abram build an altar at the oak of Moreh in Shechem?
8From 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.[vii]
After building another altar to the Lord between Bethel and Ai, what other action did Abram take?
What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord?
9And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. [viii]
Using verse seven, why did Abram continue his journey throughout the region?
How Obedient Are You? |A Study on Genesis 12:1-9
Personal Application
What did you learn about God’s character from His actions in the verses above?
Now describe Abram’s character based on his actions.
Has God asked you to “move” either to a new place, to interact with new people, or to embark on a new priority in your life?
What is God’s aim for you?
How Obedient Are You? |A Study on Genesis 12:1-9
Continuing my “No, You Will Be Moving,” story
Shortly after telling our neighbor we weren’t interested in purchasing her half of the duplex, the company my late husband worked for laid off a third of its employees. He was not in this cut, but it concerned him that the company might be closing that location.
Knowing I was considering pursuing a degree at a university near the headquarters of the company he worked for, we drove the four hours down to that area the next weekend in February. We explored both the university and the towns in the area. My late husband’s thinking was that if there were any openings for him at the headquarters and we moved there, it might ensure he would keep his job and make it easier for me to pursue the degree.
By May, my late husband had secured a job at the headquarters; we had sold our side of the duplex and moved into a home about halfway between his job and the university. I too easily secured a job.
Two and a half years later, my late husband was laid off from that job.
After two intense months of job searching, he received two job offers on the same day.
Once again, we packed up our home and moved.
I was excited but nervous about this move because I had no family, friends, or colleagues in the area.
Some of you have likely moved way more and even further around the globe than I have. Others have lived in their hometown or region their entire life.
So why all this talk about moving?
Our passage today describes God calling Abram to move.
God tells Abram to leave his country, his relatives, and his father’s house for an unknown location.
We are told Abram simply obeyed and moved as God directed. No questions asked.
Even amidst my excitement about my two big moves, I know I asked God lots of questions.
And especially now, having lost my husband to mental illness just a year ago, I still ask God lots of questions.
My current call to “move” is that I’m opening my home to share it with a niece who will arrive in just a few days. Thus, I’ve been clearing things out and packing boxes yet again to make room for this new journey the Lord has called me to embark on.
I’m also getting ready to have all the flooring replaced in my home. Thus, the packing boxes will be around until that is completed as well.
Somebody asked me earlier this week how I was doing. I initially felt like using the word forlorn. But I hesitated because being forlorn communicates a sense of hopelessness.
The best word to describe how I am doing with all the “moving” parts of my life is bittersweet. Sadness mixed with endearing memories and hope for the future.
Just as Abram would have had memories of his seventy-five years of life in his original country with his relatives and his father’s household, he also embraced the future that God called him to without question.
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. [ix]
With faith comes obedience.
How obedient to God are you?
Share in the comments below which promises God gave to Abram appeal to you and why.
For me, I find the Lord’s promise of protection the most appealing while I’m walking my steep road of grief.
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[i] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:1.
[ii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:2.
[iii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:3.
[iv] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:4.
[v] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:5–6.
[vi] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:7.
[vii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:8.
[viii] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:9.
[ix] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ga 3:7–9.