Sat.’s Devo - The Blessing of Abraham

Read: Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28
This is my 45th year through the Bible and I am amazed at all the new things I see every year. Abram’s father Terah was on his way to Canaan when he stopped short in Haran. It must have been God’s plan that Abram be the one who went all the way to Canaan. (Many times we as parents pave the way for our children to continue the calling on our family line.) Terah died young compared to his predecessors. When he died, God called Abram to leave Haran and go to the land he would show him. He promised to make Abram a great nation and bless him. His name would be great and he would be a blessing to others. Those that blessed him would be blessed and those who cursed him would be cursed. All the people on the earth would be blessed because of his descendants.
Abram took his fatherless nephew, Lot with him and he and Sarai raised Lot as their own.
They arrived in Canaan and accumulated much wealth and followers along the way. By a tree in Moreh God appeared to Abram and told him that he would give this land to his offspring so Abram built an altar to the Lord. From there he went toward Bethel. If you take the meaning of the places it reads: at the end of time there will be a teacher who will bring the former rain of the Holy Spirit. He will be the first to rise from the dead and lead others to the house of God.
There was a famine in the land which means the people were not living for God. Abram and Sarai went to Egypt to make it through the famine. Even in famine, Abram prospered and came out wealthier than before the famine and learned to trust God deeper.
In Matthew, Jesus taught the sermon we call “The Sermon on the Mount”. He taught them that they were blessed no matter what their circumstance was. They were to flavor and light the world with the God who lived in them. Their righteousness was to exceed that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They laid such detailed laws on the people that they couldn’t do. Their deeds were only on the outside to make themselves look good when in their hearts most of them were great sinners. There were some of the leaders who were holy and seeking the Lord’s kingdom with all their heart. These became followers of Jesus.
Lord, help us to walk in confidence that no matter what our circumstance is, you are our blessing.