Out of Zion

Dr. Susan Michael: Well, if God spoke to you today and told you to leave your family and your home and your your land and go to a place that he was going to show you, would you get up and pack up and follow him? Well, this week we're going to talk about Abraham who did just that. So welcome to this week's Shabbat Shalom devotional when I seek to share just a little inspiration and bring just a little peace to the close of your very busy week. We're reading through the Torah with the Jewish community and this week our reading is from Genesis 12:1 through 17:27.

The title of this reading is because in the very first line of Genesis 12:1 it says that God said to Abraham go from your country, your people and your family, and your father's household to the land I will show you. And going on then in Genesis 12:2 and 3 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. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse. And all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you.

So Abraham went as the Lord had told him. You know, this is the watershed moment of all of history, not just the Bible, but all of history. We've been reading up to this point how that man had doubted God, rebelled against God, fell into sin, and was destitute and was destined for hell and separation from God. Sin was getting worse and worse. Idolatry was getting worse. And here in Genesis 12 is when God announces his plan and initiates his plan to redeem mankind. And he tells Abraham if you will follow me I'm going to make you a great nation and through you I'm going to bless all the families of the earth.

This is what the Apostle Paul called the preaching the first preaching of the gospel because this was announcing God's redemptive plan that Jesus would later come to earth to carry out. So God promised Abraham a land, a nation, and a mission. And Abraham got up and went. What gave Abraham it's what he was called at that time. Later he was changed to Abraham, but what gave Abraham the level of faith that resulted in obedience? You know, Abraham had to believe that God was who he said he was and that God was able to fulfill these promises.

So back to my original question, if God spoke to you today and told you to leave your home and family and land to a place he would show you, you don't even know where you're going to be going, but he's going to show you, would you? And if not, then you must not believe that God is who he is and able to fulfill his promises. If God has told you to do something, do it because you're going to meet him there and you're going to see his goodness and his promises fulfilled in your life and he's going to give you a mission.

So with that I wish you a Shabbat Shalom. And once again, if you have not yet downloaded the chart of the Torah portion which so that you can read along with us each week, please do so today. The link is in today's show notes and read along with me each week. I will see you back here next week. Until then, God bless.

Guest (Male): We hope you have enjoyed this episode of Out of Zion with Susan Michael. Be sure to subscribe to Out of Zion now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, pray.com, Salem One Place, Salem Life Audio. Out of Zion with Susan Michael is a production of ICEJ USA. All rights reserved.