One Powerful Word: LEAVE
Genesis 12:1–3 (NASB95)
1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 marks a decisive moment in God’s redemptive plan. God commands Abram to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household. This call demands a radical break from his past and a step of faith into the unknown. Abram’s immediate obedience demonstrates trust in God’s promises, even without knowing the destination. This act of faith sets the tone for the covenant relationship that will shape the rest of Scripture.
God’s promises to Abram come in three powerful ways: land, descendants, and blessing. God promises to give Abram a new land, which will become the inheritance of his descendants. He promises to make Abram into a great nation, ensuring that his offspring will be numerous and significant. Most importantly, God promises that Abram will be a blessing to all peoples on earth. This blessing is universal, extending beyond Abram’s family to all nations. Those who bless Abram will be blessed, and those who curse him will face God’s judgment. This protective and expansive promise highlights God’s sovereign care and the central role Abram will play in His plan.
The call to Abram contrasts sharply with the judgment at Babel, where humanity’s pride led to division and scattering. Here, God initiates a plan to restore blessing and unity through one man and his descendants. The promise that all families on earth will be blessed through Abram points forward to the coming of the Messiah, who will bring salvation to the world.
Here's the idea I want us to consider today. God gave Abraham a simple command – leave. Leave everything you know, everything you identify with. And only if he left it could he be blessed and be a blessing to others. What do you need to leave? What are you holding onto that blocks God’s blessing for you and through you to others? Alliances, ideologies, beliefs, practices… What do you need to leave behind?