Trust Enough to Go

We begin a new series this morning: “Faith That Works”

We will turn to the first book of the Bible, Genesis 12:1-7.

Today’s message will be titled: “Trust Enough to Go”

While you are turning...

We voted a short time ago to begin to look for land for a new church to be built.

Some are excited and others are not.

But we have voted because we have prayed and felt this to be the best stewarding of the future of FBC Caldwell.

Even though we have voted, this is not a quick move.

It is one that will require much research, leg work, and physical work for years to come.

I spoke with someone earlier this week about the fact that some of us may not live long enough to enjoy the new facilities…not because I know something you do not…but because sometimes God takes years to bring things to fruition.

The story we will begin this morning is one where God gave to go sign, but not complete the fullness of the project for many years.

As I prayed where to begin our series on FAITH…the Lord led me here.

Why? Because sometimes we have to be reminded of the faith required to be willing...

Genesis 12:1–7 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.

A little background into our text this morning...

Abram lived in a place called Ur of the Chaldeans.

His family, while descending from Noah’s son Abraham, had become part of the culture of Babel.

If we were to turn back this morning just one chapter and look at the first nine verses of the eleventh chapter we would see that fateful story…the dispersing of the people and the separation of their languages. We would see how God had taken to divide them because they sought to try and build their way to Him. As before the flood…they had turned their hearts to evil.

Babel was roughly 100 years after the flood.

Abram was born 322 years after the Great Flood.

When we say that Abram’s people were part of the culture of Babel, we know that the people of Babel had human sacrifice and servant slaying when the queen or king died.

We also know from Scripture that Terah, Abram’s father was an idol worshipper and from apocryphal works (Jubilees 12) most likely an idol maker.

Joshua 24:2 ESV

2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

So Abram is called from a dark place to come after God and belong to God.

God Speaks, Even When It’s Dark

Genesis 12:1 (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.

In the previous chapter, God has divided the people and now God is calling His man.

Have you ever noticed how many people are called to come after God when their lives seem the most tumultuous?

Abram’s people are broken and the text does not show him to be in opposition to their lifestyle…yet, God calls in the midst of the brokenness of life.

I want us to pay attention to what God tells Abram to do and what He calls Abram to leave behind:

Go... — to the land I will show you...

So Abram is called to “Go”.

He is told where.

He is not told for how long.

He is not told why.

He is told to Go!

He is told to leave behind:

Your Country

Your Family

Your Home

Some of us in this room have done this…maybe more than once.

At least in the idea of leaving our home, family, and some your country.

Some have done this for work, some for a better life, and some for God’s calling.

But we, church, are doing for God’s purpose for the future of this body which belongs to no single one of us, but to Him alone for His glory alone.

Now we have spoken about God speaking, but what about the darkness?

For us, I don’t want to over emotionalize the calling of Abram, but church...

Abram was from a broken people in a broken time and God called Him.

So how does God woo the heart of Abram...

God Reveals His Purpose

Genesis 12:2–3 (ESV)

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.”

God says the following as a promise:

I will make your great and large

I will bless

I will make your name great

you will be a blessing

I will honor those who do likewise for you

I will protect you

I will increase you and your blessing will go to people beyond you.

Romans 11:26 ESV

26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

Romans 11:27–33 (ESV)

27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Abram Obeys!

Genesis 12:4–5 ESV

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,

He Goes!

Many ask the question, why?

Why would he go and not know exactly where?

Why would his wife and family trust him to lead them when they don’t know where they are going?

Maybe you can think about the journey and the experience this may have been.

Sarai maybe asking…where are we going? when will we be there? how far are we going to travel? why are we going? are you lost? stop and ask directions why don’t you? you really did not take us from home and not know where we are going?

Lot maybe chiming in: hey, Abram, buddy-friend-uncle of mine you can tell me if we are lost? is the place we are going really rough and that’s why you are not telling Sarai? I wont tell her we are lost, just tell me? We can ask directions, there is no shame? are we there yet?

I say this tongue in cheek, but with a bit of truth probable to have happened. Sarai undoubtedly loved Abram, because she followed him and even allowed him to put her in harms way by carrying on his lie of calling her his sister. But the reality of lack of information is troublesome.

But yet they go…full force…look at verse 5.

Genesis 12:5 (ESV)

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,

The text here tells us the land, but they were not given this nugget of information until the appearing of the Lord.

God Blesses Obedience!

Genesis 12:5–7 (ESV)

5... 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.

The Lord did not tell Abram the land until He arrived at the land.

The Lord reveals His blessing!

So what?

This is a great story, but how does it apply to us today?

God still speaks, are you listening? He calls!

God still has a purpose…are we willing?

If we are willing, God still blesses…are we striving?

Walking Away, But In...

Listen…when He calls!

Be willing when He directs!

Strive to step out where He is at work!