If you want to get the most out of a biblical character you have to read the full account so as we look at this remarkable woman of faith I invite you to read Genesis 12-24. I hope you don't mind if I slow walk you through the text and extract some exciting points for you to ponder. ( Please be advised that if you see a parenthesis before a word then this is likely the letters ( ) before that word. I don't know why this happens but just so you can enjoy the reading.
Sarai who's name means princess is the wife of a man who hears from the true and lviing God in an idolatrous pagan land. Now let's take a moment to plunge the depth of this fact and what lesson we learn about God from this fact. God can ( )eakthrough on the mind of anyone who chooses at anytime He choses regardless of what state they find themselves in because God is Sovereign. God can ( )eak in on your mind but you can't ( )eak in on God...He must reveal Himself to you. If I can fast forward just a minute when Jesus asked the question of his disciples, " Who do you say that I am it is interesting to note that though He had spent a signficant amount of time with them they really couldn't know unless God revealed to them for you see Jesus had no external clue as to His identity that is he wasn't an Adonis if you would that went about flexing powerful muscles nor did he have the aura of a spiritual guru but yet He is God in the flesh in the person of the Son of God. When one disciple speaks up and declares that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God Jesus declares that flesh and blood didn't reveal this to you but my Father which is in heaven.
A( )am possibly was sitting looking at some tribal deity that had been whittled by either himself or someone else and suddenly He hears a voice in His heart and knows that it is God. God ( )oke through all the idolatry/paganism and ( )oke in to the mind of this man and revealed Himself. I can imagine A( )aham now looking around at the idols set up where he was and trembling as a voice from heaven speaks to His heart.
Can you imagine Sarai at home possibly preparing a stew over tbe rocks outside the tent? She possibly sees her husband from a distance and runs to grab a few bowls that he has fashioned out of wood to serve him the victuals warm. He places a kiss upon her cheek and announces that they are leaving.
Leaving..she is thinking to herself we left Ur at your father's directive and she is comfortable where she is. The tent is situated just the way she likes it, she's made freinds in the community and she likes the neighborhood. She moves about and utters a prayer directed at one of the dumb idols that can neither see or hear her. Her husband places a loving hand atop her own and shakes his head. Sarai I have heard from God.
Which one A( )am?
The One?
The One? she sees his face aglow with faith in someone and she realizes that her husband that this isn't an idol that he is imagining He has heard from but He has had a personal encounter with the only God.
Her A( )am, of all men in the region her husband. A( )am begins throwing items in a sack and she insists he eat but he is abaze with faith and desires to obey the God whom He encountered.
A( )am told Sarai that God had chosen him to be a great nation, and that he would bless him and make his name great and that he would be a blessing. God declared that anyone that cursed him would be cursed but anyone that blessed him would be blessed and in him would all nations be blessed. Like in the previous devotional we read about the seed of the woman that would crush Satan's head and now we are told that in A( )am all families in the earth would be blessed. What an awesome promise! Who do you think God is referring to? God's vision spanning all times in a glance and viewing all the family of A( )am 42 generations knew that His Son who was slain from the foundaiton of the world was going to be the one in whom all the nations wold be blessed Jesus makes it possible for all of us to be blessed to receive of God's redemption. Hallelujah! Now back to the account of A( )am and Sarai.
A( )am's cousin Lot and the souls and they had and the substance they had gathered and like the Beverly Hillbillies they loaded the caravan and moved to Canaan.
Because of the call of God Sarai had to leave her home, family and region. Sarai had no idea where they were going beause her husband had been told that God would show him where to go. She epitomizes submission to her husband as there is no recorded criticism of her spouse. She simply submitted.
Leaving what is familiar and what you are comfortable with is a challenge I can honestly say and I am sure as readers yiou can declare the same. You may have to face a similar situation: such as you have to relocate due to an employment situation, a housing change, em( )acing someone new etc. This transition definitely holds uncertainty but I have wonderful news for you. God will be with you and go before you. If He is guiding you to a place then please know that God will be with you whereever He goes. One of His Jehovistic titles or Yahwist titles is Jehvah Shammah. He is there! The God of Heaven will go before you and cause things to work together for the good of them who love the Lord the called according to His purpose God wants you to know this about Him today and take comfort in God's omnipresence. Inspite of the pain of this transition you might be facing like Sarai Sarai had to leave something to gain something else. Paul the apostle counted everything loss to pursue the cause of Christ. A( )am demomstrated the same commitment and he went not knowing where he was going but following the leading of God.
We all have to make hard
The call of God required them to forsake idolatry paganism heathenistic practices and follow God. God chose this couple for a special divine purpose. Do you sense God calling you today? First He calls us to Himself because He calls us to do something. How can we approach the Holy One when we are sinful. It is possible because of Jesus the Christ who made it possible for all to be reconciled to God. Just sharing this with you the readers excites me for who knows if at the conclusion of this you will believe on Him and want to live your life for Him. God's call will pull you from the comforts of sin. When God calls you to leave something someone some place behind you can expect to find blessings ahead.
Thank you for sharing in this devotional and please feel free to ask questions or post comments under the avatar being used for this writing.
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