I have been a little behind in my weekly blog, “Bible Stories to Share with Your Children,” but I am getting back on track with this entry over Abram. Abram’s (and later Abraham’s) story is quite extensive and detailed so I am going to break his life into a few different blogs that focus on unique events in Abraham’s life. The complete story of Abraham is told in the Bible from Genesis 11:26 to 25:11; however, the focus of this blog is found in Genesis 11:26 to 13:18.
Key Lessons
- Abram went. In Genesis 12:1-3 the Bible says, “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God told Abram to leave his country, and Abram obeyed the voice of Jehovah. Hebrews 11:8-10 is an excellent commentary on Abram’s actions.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
- Abram was selfless. When the land became unable to bear Lot’s and Abram’s families, herds, and herdsmen, Abram allowed Lot to choose the land that he wanted, and Abram took the other land. Genesis 13:8-9 states: “Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Abram considered Lot first, and was selfless through his actions. Abram also avoided any possible conflict that could have arisen through a dispute over the land by allowing Lot to choose the land first.
Read Week 4-Bible Stories to Share with Your Children:Noah