Jason Silver

Refreshing blog

Web Development by CrookedBush.com Inc.

My Journal and Diary

2017

March

Saturday, March 11th, 2017

Upwardly Mobile

I’m 48 years old. I feel settled. I like living in Sydenham, except for the winters. It’s good to be around people I grew up with, to have my family all within shouting distance, to worship with them week by week. At times I’ve considered whether I should return to the ministry vocation but one thing that has held me back is the thought of pulling up roots and moving again.

So with that in mind, I’m pretty impressed that Abram was 75 years old - 27 years older than me -- when he heard God’s voice, packed up his stuff, and left everything.

For what reason did he move? He heard God’s voice. Genesis 2:15-17 says,

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. 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 the one who curses 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.
Genesis 2:15-17

That’s a big move, pretty late in life, based on something you heard in your head. Right? Because when God speaks to us, it’s usually the still, small voice.

And yet his obedience to God, his response to this call, precipitates a whole shower of goodness, from the rise of Joseph in Egypt, through to the life of Jesus Christ himself, and ultimately our salvation.

So not only is that pretty amazing obedience, it had astounding impact.

Is there something God is calling you to do? What would it take for you to pull up and follow his leading?

Well, it would be nice to have the same kind of promises, wouldn’t it. To hear that God will make you a great nation, and bless you, and bless all the families of the earth because of you!

Has not God promised this already? He’s promised to bless you and not to harm you! He’s promised to care for all your needs much more than the sparrows of the sky or the lilies of the field! The scriptures are full of promises to us if we are faithful to him.

Do you know what holds me back? Fear; the endless what-if questions that cascade down upon me. So much could go wrong.

I’m sure Abraham didn’t know all of the terrible things he would have to go through. The conflict with his brother, Lot for example, and the famine he encounters when he reaches the promised land. Then there was that whole thing with the Egyptians capturing his beloved Sarah to give her to Pharaoh. Those were pretty incredible odds he faced against the four and five kings. Then there’s the king of Gerar who also tries to take Sarah for himself. Oh, and what about that whole deal with Hagar and Ishmael, and having to send this first son away.

Life is hard, and maybe if Abraham focused too much on the pitfalls, he would never have taken the step of faith.

Would you need more evidence than that still small voice that Abraham heard? What might God have in store for you and for your descendants if you were to obey his call?

Something is going to go wrong, something always goes wrong. There will be tests, challenges, hardships, but there will be blessing too!


Tags:sermons 0 likes

...show/hide