Genesis 12:7: Responding Faithfully to God's Promises

Genesis 12:7.. "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."

Yesterday we took a look at how Abraham responded to God's calling. Today, we are going to take a moment to look at how Abraham responded to God's promises. But before we do so, let me ask you a question: how do you respond to God's promises? God's Word contains numerous promises of God's goodness towards you. How do you respond to them? When you read that God causes all things to the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), do you let that promise go, or do you respond faithfully in worship? Let us find out how we ought to respond to God's promises this morning by looking at the pattern of Abraham.

In Genesis 12, Abraham first calls Abraham to leave his homeland to go someplace where God will lead him. After God leads him to Canaan (or what we would call the "Promised Land"), God appears to Abraham and tells him that he will give this land to is offspring. I don't know about you, but I think that's a pretty big promise. We don't necessarily understand the idea of obtaining property as a means of prosperity, but in ancient times land was what the world revolved around. If you owned more land than your neighbor, you were the more prosperous people. Thus, God offering the entire land of Canaan to Abraham's offspring was no small promise.

So what did Abraham do in response to this? He immediately built an altar to the Lord. In other words, he worshiped him by offering up sacrifices pleasing to him. He praised God by giving up some of his possessions to him, acknowledging him as bigger and better than the things of this world. In response to God's calling, Abraham obeyed, but in response to God's promises, Abraham worshiped.

So, do you worship in response to God's promises? When God chooses to give you great gifts, as he did for Abraham's descendants, do you respond in worship, or do you neglect the one who has given you such great promises and gifts?

Stop and think today: in the last twenty-four house alone, what has God blessed you with? Have you taken time to thank him for those things? If not, I encourage you to do so.