The Land . . . I Give to You

Scripture Reference: Genesis 13:14-18

God was going to make an everlasting, unconditional covenant with Abraham and three steps were required before the covenant was given.

He was to leave the idolatrous city of his birth, Ur of the Chaldees, his idolatrous family and his kinsmen.

Abraham did not obey these instructions all at once, but in stages. The Lord told him, “Get out of your country . . . to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1) God only said “show” but Abraham acted in faith.

First he left Ur with his wife Sarah, but Terah, his father, went with him, together with a brother’s family, and Lot, his nephew. In Joshua 24:2, God said that “Terah . . . and Nahor . . . served other gods” Instead of going to Canaan, they went to Haran. The name Terah probably means “delay” and he certainly proved to be a delaying influence.

Next, Abraham left idolatrous Terah and his brother, and entered Canaan, but Lot was still with him. The Lord had told him, “Get out . . . from your family.” It was necessary for Abraham to obey completely, and when he entered Canaan, God said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” He did not promise the land to Abraham yet. Perhaps this affected Abraham’s faith, so despite building an altar to the Lord at Bethel, Abraham kept travelling south and eventually came to Egypt. As this was another idolatrous land it is not surprising that this is where Abraham lapsed in faith. Lot was still with him. Only after a stern rebuke from Pharaoh for his deception did Abraham return to Canaan, dwelling in Hebron.

Finally, materialistic Lot separated from Abraham to live near Sodom and only then did God promise to give the land to Abraham and his “descendants forever.” Now Abraham was ready to receive the full covenant of the Lord, having fulfilled the initial conditions.

What a lesson there is for us here! Are we like Abraham at this stage, slow in obeying the Lord completely and deprived of the enjoyment of the Lord’s full blessings?

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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