Tuesday 15 September 2015

Psalm: Psalm 89:1-18

Background

When we read the story of Abram we cannot help but reflect onwhat it must have been like for him, on hearing the call of God, topack up the whole of his life, including not only his family butall those who had been dependent on him whilst they were living inHaran, and start out on a journey to an unknown destination. Theyarrive first at the land of Canaan and it seems from the text thatit is not a hospitable place to stop (verses 5-6). They move onuntil God speaks again, telling him that it will become his land(verse 7), but not yet it would seem, so having built an altar hemoved on in stages until they reached the Negeb where the texttells us they stop to wait further instructions so to speak.

Abram's confidence in God in these circumstances is remarkable,he is confident that the whole journey is planned out for him, andalthough the land of Canaan is to be the ultimate goal, he isprepared to travel on with all his entourage to the edge of thedesert to wait further instructions. It is a remarkable journey ifwe think about it, not only is Abram 75 years old (verse 4), but heuproots his wife, his nephew and "the persons whom they hadacquired" (v. 5) and presumably their flocks as well, to find a newhome and a new challenge in days when there were no motorways, norailway lines, and no proper highways between towns. Yet throughoutthe voice of God is so clear to him that he is able to sacrificeall that he has known and put all their futures into God'shands.

To Ponder

• Would you have had the courage to totally uproot yourself andyour family because you felt God was calling you to the other endof the world? What would you do?

• Would you set out on such a journey without a firm knowledge ofwhere the journey would end?

• How strong is your faith? How can you recognise the voice ofGod amongst the clamour of the voices of the world aroundyou?