Stepping Out in Faith - Part 3 (Genesis 11:27- 12:9)

“The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” (Genesis 12:7, NIV)

 

The land that God promised to give Abram and his children was the land of Canaan -- the Promised Land.  This land is named after the 4th son of Noah: Ham.  They were pagan inhabitants.

 

"The Canaanite religion featured many gods. These gods were worshiped with elaborate ritual. Various kinds of cultic personnel, or priests, officiated at these pagan ceremonies. Their religious system also featured many different places of worship, varying from simple outdoor altars to massive stone temples."[1]  "These were wicked people, and in 15:16ff. and Deuteronomy 7:1ff. they were later to be destroyed because of the abominations they practiced. So in the place of God’s calling, there were testings that came from his neighbors. [2]

As New Testament Christians we know that the ultimate offspring of Abraham is Jesus Christ. “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16, NIV).  And the ultimate "land" is the whole world. “It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.” (Romans 4:13, NIV).  And this promise to Abraham through Christ is the blessing of all Christians. “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7, NIV)  “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29, NIV ).

In the midst of this hostile land -- a land God promised first to Israel but a land that prefigured the whole world to all who believe, Abram set up and altar and worshipped God. Even in this land we learn that Abram was looking for a heavenly city.

“By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:9–10, NIV)

We as the seed of Abraham too live in a hostile world -- but this is Christ's world.  He reigns in the midst of His enemies (Psalm 110:2).  In this world of hostility we continue to worship the one and only true God, for someday the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and Christ. (Revelation 11:15).

Father, from the earliest times you have planted Your people in strange and sometimes hostile places. Through Your chosen ones You are establishing Your reign on this earth.  As our father Abram moved from place to place, so we too move and the bidding of our Savior.  The world is not our home, yet in Your plans and purposes this world, renewed and redeemed, will be our home, forever and ever.  May we , like Abram, follow You faithfully, worship You sincerely and live in such a way that our lives show to others that we too are looking for a city whose designer and builder is God. Amen.




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1. Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. 1995 (R. F. Youngblood, F. F. Bruce, R. K. Harrison & Thomas Nelson Publishers, Ed.). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (44). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.