QT 8/19/2025 Gen 12:1–9, Waiting upon God

Genesis 12:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

 

NOTE: I have to include this for posterity sake at least. There is a progressive revelation of God to Abram. William Newell condensed it as follows:

 

1. As the LORD (Jehovah, His name as in covenant with His people), 12:1; 12:8; 13:4; 13:18.
2. God Most High (El Elyon, Creator—God Over and Owning All), 14:18–22.
3. Shield and Exceeding Great Reward, 15:1.
4. The Almighty God (El Shaddai), 17:1.
5. The Righteous Judge, 18:25.
6. The Everlasting God, 21:33.
7. The God of Providence (Jehovah Jireh), 22:14.

 

Stephen (in Acts 7), speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us that God called Abram while he was still in Mesopotamia, and before he lived in Haran. Apparently, God renews the covenant after his Father died. Here we have the first record of God speaking to Abram and explaining the blessing that he would bestow upon the whole world through his seed. And as he does he uses his covenant name, Yahweh (yhwh).

 

Abram does not yet have a child, and the promise is to his descendants more than 400 years later. Our problem is that our focus is so near-term (here, now, next week) that we miss out on seeing what God is doing, which might take years to accomplish. Our job is to be faithful and to do the right thing. In time we will see God do amazing things through our lives. Just as God revealed himself (his names) to Abram over many years, so God will reveal himself to us -- it doesn't happen overnight.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I content where I am?
2. Am I waiting patiently and expectantly for the next step in my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for these days. I don't know what will emerge out of them. But I need to trust you and wait upon you.