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RUSSELL SANDERS
1-6-2023
A JOURNEY OF FAITH – LESSON 3
Abram and Lot arrived in Canaan without any particular destination in mind in the land. It was a journey into the unknown. For about 8-10 years Abram wandered from place to place, perhaps staying on a year or two in each campsite. He even went down to Egypt to live a little while and Lot was still traveling with him.
Upon returning back to Canaan, some family disputes broke out. God had not instructed Abram to take Lot with him from Haran. He was to leave his father’s house, not take half of it with him.
Abram was now exceeding wealthy in flocks, silver, and gold. Lot also had wealth with large flocks. Grazing land became scarce between them, so Abram decided they had to part. Lot chose the Jordan plains to the southeast near Gomorrah and Sodom, a fertile area near the Dead Sea. It looked like the best of the land.
Afterward, God told Abram to look to the North, South, East and West. God said all the land that he could see would be his. He also promised that Abram’s seed (children) would cover the earth.
Abram and Sarai finally settled in the plain of Mamre (later known as Hebron). Lot’s choice continued to be a problem as Abram had to go to war with Babylonian kings to rescue Lot. However, God made a covenant with Abram that his generations would be so numerous that his progeny could not even be counted. Yet he was childless, so how could tis be? Abram trusted God. In Genesis 15:6 it says, “And he believed in the LORD. And He counted it to him for righteousness.”
Abram now had a settled home, but the journey of faith was not yet complete until the miracle of Isaac’s birth. With the announcement of Isaac’s birth which Abram had believed would happen by faith, his long journey was now complete. To honor his long journey of faith, God announced a change in his name to Abraham which means “father of multitudes.”
Although Isaac was God’s chosen (born to Sarah) to raise up a nation unto Himself, he had a total of eight sons, six of which came through Keturah after Sarah died. Several of these sons raised up nations in their own names.
Abraham had been faithful in following God into the unknown. God, in turn, blessed his obedience and God’s purpose for Abraham and his journey fulfilled God’s plan for his life.
Tomorrow we will talk about your journey.
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