(Using Abraham as a case study)
Genesis 17:1-5; 15
‘And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good…’ (Genesis 1:31).
‘For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving’ (1 Timothy 4:4).
Truly, God actually knew that mankind would fall, even before He created them. Because of this, He made provision for the Blood of the everlasting covenant…The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-20).
The devil actually thought he had foiled God’s plan of perfection for mankind through the fall. However, God had a better plan!
God is not man! Unlike mortals, He declares the end from the beginning. He is not intimidated by the present condition of things. He sees far ahead, into the future. He knows you are in a mess, that’s why He wants to make a message out of your life…
Shortly after God called Abram and gave him promises concerning the future, he relocated to Egypt because of the famine that broke out in the land (Gen. 12:10). Furthermore, he lied unto the Egyptians concerning his relationship with his wife (Gen. 12:10-20).
Later on, he had to separate with Lot. Both of them were in the same line of business. They were so great that they couldn’t stay together in one place. There was strife between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s.
One important lesson to draw from his life was that he kept building altars unto the Lord (Gen. 12:7-8; 13:18). Build an altar unto the Lord!
In Genesis 14, he went to rescue Lot, his family, goods and other people who were held captive, with his friends and three hundred and eighteen trained servants (Gen. 14:11-24).
Later on, he met with Melchizedek who was king of Salem, the priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek blessed him with bread and wine, declaring the blessings of God upon him. Furthermore, he gave Melchizedek tithes of all… (Gen. 14:18-20).
Even Levi paid tithes on that particular day (Hebrews 7:9-10).
Furthermore, the Lord made a covenant with him (Gen. 15:7-21).
(For the next thirteen years, God remained silent and never spoke to him.)
I pray that in 2016 and beyond, the Lord will appear to you…He will speak to your heart, and you will hear His voice
‘And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord’ (1 Samuel 3:21).
This act provoked an attitude of worship in Abram, such that he fell flat on his face in worship before the Lord…
This is the beginning of impactful living! (James1:21). God changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude or many nations) – Gen. 17:4-5.
God also changed his wife’s name from Sarai (my princess) to Sarah (the Princess) – Gen. 17:15.
