Abram’s Failure

Now the Lord said had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from they kindred… And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son…” —Genesis 12:1, 5

    Abraham is noted for his faith (Rom. 4:16).  He is listed in Hebrews 11 as example of great faith. 

    But, like many of us, Abram’s faith faltered at times.  One of those times occurred at the outset of God’s call to Abram.  Note the past tense in Genesis 12:1—“Now the Lord HAD SAID unto Abram…” This indicates  God’s command was given in the previous chapter while Abram was still in Ur (see Gen. 11:31-31; Acts 7:2-4).  God’s command was to get out from his father’s house and leave his kindred behind in Ur.  Abram failed to do this. He brought his nephew Lot with him.  Abram’s incomplete obedience in this regard had several unfortunate consequences.  In spite of Abram’s generosity (Gen. 13:8-9), Lot became a continual problem for Abram as you read the subsequent chapters in Genesis.  Lot eventually committed incest with his daughters and became the father of two nations (Moabites and Ammonites) that were a perpetual thorn in the side of Israel throughout the Old Testament.

    All this could have been avoided if Abram would have completely obeyed the Lord in the first place and left Lot behind in Ur of the Chaldees.  Incomplete obedience always delays God’s blessings. Abraham doesn’t enter the full blessings of God until he has been completely separated from his father’s house and kindred.

    Christian, remember, any disobedience to every detail of God’s commands will reap regrettable consequences.   We may commend Abram for his faith in leaving Ur to follow the Lord to the promised land, but let us also learn to leave behind anything (or anyone) that would hinder God’s blessings in our Christian walk. 

    BOTTOM LINE: Obey God completely; Trust God fully.