ONE MAN'S PROMISE

Are you familiar with the term, “The Promised Land”? Well, it comes from the fact that God promised the land that’s now called Israel to His people, through the father of that nation, Abraham. 

In today’s devotional, we’re going to look at that Bible story, because it applies so much to who we are today.

It all begins when God speaks to Abram (as he was known at the beginning of the story). Now Abram was living a comfortable life. He was quite wealthy, living in a place called Ur, which is around modern-day Baghdad. But God calls him out of that place:

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. 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. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

That was an incredible promise, because Abram and his wife, Sarai, were old. I mean they were well into their 70s, and the greatest hurt of their lives was that they were childless. And here, God comes to them with a two-part blessing of land and children. 

So, there they are in all their comfort, wealth, and old age, and God comes along with this outrageous promise. What do they do? They get up and leave!

It all must have seemed pretty impossible, but right in the middle of all this impossibility, the Promised Land is born. God speaks this promise into Abram’s life and Abram believes it. How do we know that? Because he left his comfortable existence in Ur, and he followed down the dusty trail of God’s promise into the unknown. He stepped out. He followed God’s call.

Look, Abram and Sarai still made plenty of mistakes along the way, but the Promised Land was written in Abram’s heart. Centuries went by in the history of Israel. Centuries! But, eventually, it happened. The Promised Land happened. And it all began one night when, under the stars, alone with God, the Promised Land was written on Abram’s heart. He believed. 

Today will you let God write His promises on your heart?

LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS 

1. Go back and read Genesis 12:1-8. Put yourself in Abram and Sarai's shoes. How would you have felt?      
2. Honestly, would you have taken the step that Abram and Sarai did, to leave your comfort zone and go on this wild goose chase? Why or why not? 
3. What outrageous opportunities has God given you over the years? (The sort that seem impossible to believe at first.) Write them down.
4. Perhaps now is a good time to bring your uncertainties and fears about the future before God in prayer. Ask Him to help you believe that He is guiding you according to His will, even when it seems unbelievable.