Abraham's Blessing

TEXT: Genesis 12:1-9, 13:14-18, 21:1-5, 22:17

God had a special plan for all the people who loved Him. Abram was one of the men who loved God. He was going to have a great part in God's special plan. Abram had a wife named Sarai. Many years later God would give both of them new names.

Abram lived in the country of Ur. God told him to leave his country and his father's family. He was to go to a new land that God would show him. God said, "I will bless you and make you a great nation. Many people will know your name and be blessed because of you. "

Abram obeyed God right away. He and his wife and his nephew, Lot, prepared for the long journey. They gathered together everything they owned and started for the new land that God had promised to Abram.

When they reached the land of Canaan, God said, "I will give this land to you and your children. " Abram was so happy that he built an altar to thank God.

One day God told Abram to walk through all the land of Canaan. Again, God said, "I will give this land to you and to your children. " Even though Abram and Sarai had no children yet, God promised that they would have a large family. There would be many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family would keep growing for years and years. Abram's family would be so large that it would be like trying to count the stars in the sky or the sand on the sea shore.

God changed Abram's name to Abraham because he would be the father of many nations. God also gave Sarai a new name. Her new name became Sarah because she would be the mother of nations.

Abraham and Sarah waited many years for God's promise to happen. When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, God came to them and said that in one year they would have a son. God told them to name their son, Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were now very old, but

it is never too late for God to keep His promise. One year later their little son was born. And, just as God had told them to, they named him Isaac. Abraham and Sarah knew that Isaac was just the beginning of the wonderful blessing that God had promised to them.

Did you know that God's promise to Abraham was also a special blessing for you? It's true, because many, many years later Jesus became a part of Abraham's large family. Some people become very anxious for God's promises to finally happen. But God knows the right time for everything. If you love Jesus and obey Him you can know that He always keeps His promises. Isn’t it exciting to know that God loves us and sent Jesus to earth?