Devotion 23 February 2026

Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord ---  The Lord will keep you from all harm –He will watch over your life.  Psalm 121: 1 – 2a + 7

READING: Genesis 12: 1-5

This is a well-known story about Abraham responding to God’s call to move from Haram to Canaan.  Abraham didn’t know where he was going but he put all his faith in God and moved on with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot and all his possessions.  He became the man that started to build the nation of Israel and on whom the Jewish faith was built.  He and his wife were both elderly people, yet he believed God when he said He would make him into a great nation and that all peoples of the earth would be blessed through him.  On the surface this appears to be entirely absurd.  Later on, in the book of Genesis we read about God telling them they would have a son, even in their old age!   As far as we know Abraham was not a religious man nor a politician who could build a nation, nor was he a soldier who could conquer the nation of Canaanites.  But considering all this Abraham responded to God’s call and left his home to travel to an unknown destination.  Abraham was our first example of a man who responded with faith to a call from God.  He seems to be so certain that God has a purpose for him that he leaves behind all his security, all that he has known, takes his wife and nephew and all his possessions and moves out.

God’s calling is clear that Abraham will bless, not just the families of his own nation, but all the families of the earth.  As descendants of Abaham we too are called to be a blessing to those around us.  We bless others by sharing God’s love with them.  Every day we are called to follow God’s calling and to step out in faith in response.

Prayer

Lord God, we praise you and thank you for calling Abraham to move to Canaan and to establish the new nation of Israel.  Thank you for the example of the faith of Abraham and Sarah.  Help us to develop a faith that readily responds to Your calling.  May our lives also be a blessing to those around us. We pray this in the name of Jesus.  Amen