Unexpected Call
Sometimes I wonder what God is thinking.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.” - Genesis 17:1–8
How does God find a man who is faithful? In Abrams case, God chose him to go from his land to lead a nation.
“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. 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. 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.’” - Genesis 12:1-2
Now, if a voice came from nowhere and told you to leave your land, would you not think yourself crazy?
God's choices do not always make sense for us. In fact, they probably never do. God chooses those who many of us might overlook or not see at all.
What God sees in us is what lies within, and there was something inside Abram that pleased God.
He chose to bestow on Abram great blessings because Abram chose to listen to God, a voice unknown and unexpected.
So, how will God choose to speak to us?
We can assume He won't, and if we believe that, we may never hear Him when He does.
Maybe Abram is not so special. Maybe we are all capable of being asked to do something God has in store for us, but we may not all listen or follow.
If we miss the chance, will it come again.
Probably not, but don't fret. Abram was old when God called out to him. Maybe your chance has not yet happened.
More to come...