God Number One at All Times (Gen. 22:1-19)

People, things and dreams tend to climb the priority ladder quickly.  Who or what is reaching right now for the top rung, the one that's reserved for God alone?

It doesn't matter that God knows He's number one.  You must know it and show it.  The way you show it is through obedience and faith.

The test is never just for you alone.  I'm sure Isaac learned a thing or two here!

Keeping God number one all the time will be delightful and painful.  Delightful, because you want to please Him.  Painful, because what's asked from you could be hard, perplexing or permanent.

Abram Defeats the Kings (Gen. 14:15-16)

With 318  hand-trained men, Abram did what 5 kings and their armies couldn't do.

• Consider the impact of discipleship.  Had Abram not invested in those 318 men, there wouldn't have been rescue and victory to report.  The time to disciple people is always now, before they're needed.
• Consider the impact of one man totally sold out to God.  He will invest in others.  He will take faith risks others would avoid.  He will go the distance for family (By the way, we're the family of God!).  He will more than succeed in his mission (Abram went after Lot and brought back all the captrives.).

Abram Took Lot (Gen. 12:5)

Abram was on a faith journey.  He was given one general command (Gen. 12:1 -- "Go") and seven promises (Gen. 12:2-3).  In between, nothing was recorded.  No strategy was given except "Go."  No instructions, no map, no route, no timeline.  Risk guaranteed.

It's understandable Abram chose this risk for himself.  Why take Lot?  Wasn't he old enough to launch on his own?  Taking Lot might've been strategic.  It provided Abram another man with which to share his faith journey.  The best way to grow in faith is to learn it and live it with others.  Lot learned about faith and obedience while the primary load remained on the elder Abram.  Abram mentored Lot in the faith life.

In your faith journey, who are you bringing with you?  Who's learning about the faith life at your "expense"?

Settling Prematurely (Gen. 11:31)

Terah, Abram, Sarai and Lot set out for Canaan.  "Canaan" comes from a root that means "to bend the knee, to bring low, to humble."  Sounds like worship, doesn't it?

They made a pitstop on the way, settling at Haran.  "Haran" means "parched."  It's root means "to melt, burn, dry up."  Lesson:  Where you settle, you will dry up!

Later, Canaan would be described as "a land flowing with milk and honey."  The spies would bring back evidence of great fruitfulness.  Abram already knew God wanted him to go to Canaan (Ac. 7:2-3), yet they settled in Haran.  Literally, they "dwelt."  That means they sat there and got comfortable, all the while postponing fruitfulness and worship.  In their sedentary state, they weren't fulfilled but parched.

The call is obvious:  Don't settle prematurely!  Who or what has caused you to "settle"?  That's what stands between you and promise, you and fulfillment, you and worship.

Abraham Went Out (Heb. 11:8)

Abraham "went out, not knowing where he was going." (Heb. 11:8, NKJV)

The inheritance was more important than the inconvenience and insecurity.  What Abraham would get was more important than what he had to give up.  Inheritance was the place of promise, effectiveness, and blessing.

Faith was more important than the facts.  The only fact was that it was time to go somewhere else.  The fact could've led to stalling, excusing or reconsidering.  Abraham's faith led to obedience, to action.

The word of the Lord didn't fail.  God did show Abraham, eventually, where to settle.  Abraham had to leave first.  God had to lead Abraham out before He would lead him in.  At the right time God said, "This is it." 

While you're looking for clarity and certainty, God is looking for obedience.  What you call step one may not be step one.