Daily Devotional Genesis 12:1–9
The first eleven chapters of Genesis read like a tragedy. God created a perfect world, but humans chose to rebel against God and go their own way. Sin entered the picture in dramatic fashion: Adam and Eve ate forbidden fruit, Cain killed Abel, and humans united in opposition to God at the Tower of Babel. How would God address this sin problem? We see the beginning of an answer in Genesis 12.
I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you.
GENESIS 12:2
The answer begins with a blessing. God called Abram to leave everything behind on the promise that, from him, God would make a great nation that would bless the whole world (v. 2). We do not know much about Abram at this point except he is 75 and he and his wife Sarai are childless (v. 4; Gen. 11:30). This was God’s plan to address human sin? Why would He choose this senior, barren couple?
Throughout the Bible, we see how God delights to call and use people who we would least expect. If you were to consider all the people who were alive at the time of Abram and Sarai, you probably would not have picked these two to further His plan to redeem humanity.
But our ability to be used by God does not depend on our status, skill, or talents. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27). Abram believed in God’s word—and he obeyed! When God called Abram to leave his homeland and made big promises to him, Abram went— no questions asked (v. 4). In the next chapters, we will follow Abram’s journey of faith and discover how God’s plan unfolds.
Go Deeper
Describe the blessing that God gives to Abram. Why did God choose Abram to fulfill this promise? What does that tell us about how and why God calls us today?
Pray with Us
People value power, wealth, and education, but You, Lord, are not impressed with the things of this world. Our efforts do not depend on our abilities but on Your power! Thank You that You can use any willing heart.