God’s Promise to Abram’s Descendants

So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your descendants." And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:4-7

Israel - Promised Land

God’s promise…I will. I will give this land to your descendants. Abram never really owned any land there in the Promised Land except the land he bought for Sarah’s burial (Genesis 23). The Promised Land was given to Abram’s family…but they actually had to fight for it. God didn’t just hand them the deed to the land on a silver platter so that they could just sit back in their recliners and relax. He wanted them to overcome the current inhabitants, commit to the land, and seek Him as their God. That is pretty much how I see the historical part of the Old Testament. God’s chosen people just don’t see how really blessed they are. Some, like David, really did seek and find God…and eventually live to please Him. Here in Canaan, after traveling 600 miles from Haran, Abram built an altar and dedicated it to the Lord. You can imagine that he was thankful to the Lord. The promise of land—of a place to call home for Abram’s group had become a nomadic tribe.  

That ‘Promised Land” for us is a home in Heaven. Do we treat it as Abraham’s family did and not see it or God for the great value that is there? Think about it. Salvation for us is similar to the security that God offered Abram for his descendants. Do we take it for granted? Are we thankful for it? Do we share the concept and identity of salvation with others? For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. It’s a free gift—yours, if you want it.

Prayer ~ Lord God, Thank You for allowing Your Son, Jesus, to be our sacrifice. We accept this gift of eternal life and claim the promise that You have a home for us…just for us—not a nomadic life—in Heaven.

Bible Reading: January 17 – Genesis 16-18

© 2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted

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