The Call

Genesis 12:1 - 20 The Call of Abram
I love this story, well I love this first paragraph! What a great thing to do. A very scary thing. Ok, here's the thing...God says leave your home, ok I'm with ya so far; God says leave your country and your family, ok you say, wonder why-eh? God says "I will make you a great nation." Hmm you say how's that? God says "I will bless you, and make your name great." Ok God, I'm still following you, why is this again? God says "so you can be a blessing." And not only that, God says, 'I've got your back, don't worry about the bad guys I'll take care of them for you.'

Ok so now we get the set up. God says these things, and Abram goes. He takes Sarai and his nephew and off they set. WONDERFUL! you think now we're following God's plan, and it should be good again, right?

We find Abram was 75 years old-how BOLD to go on this journey. We should all be so bold whenever the Lord says "go." The Lord is with them and shows them the land he will give them and their descendents. It's a big and fertile land. They stop and pray (pitched a tent and built an altar) and find it's not time to stay just yet, so off they set.

Now we get to Egypt, and what the heck is Abram thinking, I read this and think: Oh no this is not a good idea, it can't go well. And guess what? It really doesn't go well. What WAS Abram thinking? I'll just tell this little lie here and I'll save my skin. No worries there eh?

What a horrible way to set off on a journey. What a terrible thing to ask your wife. What a wicked thing to do to your host. I guess he figured God didn't really mean what he said, or it was up to him (Abram) to make it work out. Now if I recall this started as God's idea right, so now all of a sudden Abram's in charge. I don't think that is exactly what God had in mind. Yes Abram did save his skin and get through the land safely, but at what expense? Could things have gone better, yes, I'd say so. Now the Egyptians are not pleased with Abram. (And I'm guessing Sarai isn't too keen on him just now either.)

Today I pray I don't think I'm in charge. I must remember who's in charge, and I'd better make it God, as His plans work better than mine and are grander than mine. Would I think to go on a journey at 75; to leave kith and kin to go somewhere I don't even know? If it's God's plan I pray I would.
I pray that I may be a blessing in all that I do. That, after all is the plan, and the reason for the call.
See you tomorrow
-maggie