Abram is Called (Spark pp. 26-29)

August 31:  Abram is Called  (Spark pp. 26-29)

Have you ever started walking somewhere, not really where you are going?  That’s basically what happened to the man and woman in our story today. 

You see, one day God said to a man name Abram, “Get up!  It’s time for you to leave your home, your family, your friends and everything familiar to go to a new land." 

And then God made Abram, and his wife, Sarai, a few promises about this adventure—

1)    I’ll bless you with many things along the way

2)    I’ll make sure people know about you—now, and in the future

3)    I will be kind to those that are kind to you, and not very nice to people who are not very nice to you.

4)    Because of you, all the families on EARTH will be blessed.

WOAH.  Those are some BIG promises, aren’t they?  What would YOU do if God came to you and said “I am sending you someplace new—go, explore, and I will bless you”?  That’s exciting, right?

Okay, but NOW imagine that God doesn’t do that right now.  He waits and waits and waits to call you, until you’re 75 years old.  That’s how old Abram was!  It didn’t scare Abram though—he took his wife, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot, and they started walking.  And walking. And walking.  It was a LOOOOOONG way to the new land—and it was a dry and dusty and HOT trip across the desert. They were still happy and hopeful—they knew that God was leading them to a beautiful place!  It was a long and slow trip because they carried everything they had with them: donkeys and pots and pans, dishes, and clothes, and food and camels and slowly, slowly, slowly… 

“I’m soooo HOT!” Sarai said as she wiped the sweat from her face.

“I’m getting kinda tired” said Abram, as he yawned

“My feet hurt!”  groaned Lot.

 Finally, they reached the land of Canaan.  They were out of the desert for awhile, and Abram stopped by a tall and shady tree to cool down, and get out of the blazing sun.  It felt SO good!  God came and spoke to him there. 

“I have a surprise for you.  I promise to give THIS very land to your family forever.  This is where your wandering journey will end.” 

Abram and Sarai and Lot were so thankful to God for this wonderful gift they jumped and danced and sang and hugged each other, praising God for his gifts.  Abram decided to build two altars to honor God.  One, he would build out of large smooth  stones by the tree where God had given them the good news, and another they would build out of wood, and it would be placed by their tent in the hills. 

What did we learn?  God calls us sometimes to do new things, and to follow him in faith (without always knowing where we’re going)—and he’ll do it our whole lives, not just when you’re older, but now (Remember how Miriam protected her brother Moses when he was in the river?  Remember how the little boy David defeated the GIANT Goliath?) AND even when you’re a grandparent!  The best part is that God goes WITH you—God followed Abram, Sarai, and Lot on their journey, as he protected them and called them forward.  You know what?  God DID bless the whole earth through Abram—Abram  was given a new name—Abraham—and was father to Isaac, grandfather to Jacob, and many, many generations later, to Moses and David and eventually Jesus! What we’re called to do or say may seem small now, but God can use us in ways that end up being very big—if we’ll say “yes” even when it seems scary at first.

Song of the Day:  Father Abraham.