Deeper Roots – Genesis 12:1-4

A humbled and open heart is fertile soil for God’s seeds of wisdom. Establishing deeper roots requires analyzing God’s word to discover truths, values, and lessons for application to our lives. Periodically, a scripture or passage calls for further exploration, like Genesis 12:1-4.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

Genesis 12:1-4 NIV

The book of Genesis is the first book in the Old Testament. It introduces the story of Israel and its role in God’s plan for our redemption. Moses is commonly attributed as the author of Genesis. Chapter 12 is a pivotal time in the life of Abram (Abraham). The Lord speaks to Abram and gives a very clear directive. Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household. In those days, that was a big, risky decision. Yet, Abram risked everything to obey the call of God. Verses 2 and 3 are promises of God to Abram. “I will make you into a great nation” is miraculous in itself because Sarai (Abram’s wife) was barren. God also promised to bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him. In essence, blessing Abram was the same as blessing the God of Abram. And Abram went (v4) forth in action to do the will of the Lord without hesitation.

God promised to bless Abram, and his actions of obedience brought blessings to other people. He lived a pagan lifestyle, had land, and inheritance. Yet, he responded with faith in God and walked away from it all. Sometimes obedience to God means leaving behind things in order to receive something even better. Sometimes the environment, the people you surround yourself with are not conducive to the things God wants to do in your life. There are times when God will call you up to a higher level and it requires you to step out away from places of comfort, mindsets of comfort, people of comfort.

Today, I want to encourage you to be like Abram. Abram responded to God’s command with immediate action. His faith was seen in how he acted, not just words. He listened to God calling him higher and went out to do what was required of him. Our faith in God makes us the perfect vessel to do His will on earth. Consider the ripple effect of just one person (Abram) living a God led life on the nations around him and the generations after him. There are so many lives that will be blessed by you heeding God’s call on your life. My challenge to you is to trust God and be a blessing.