OCTOBER 1,

Genesis 12:1-4 

For this month’s readings, we will focus on the history and future of Israel. You will be led through selected Bible passages that show you Israel’s triumphs and failures, as well as victories and defeats.

Israel plays a crucial part in God’s plan of salvation for a lost mankind. When God called Abraham, He began to set in motion a plan to raise a group of people that will know Him, obey Him and serve Him. These people were the seed or descendants of Abraham, first called the children of Israel, the Israelites, and later, the Jews. When they conquered the land of Canaan and began to have rules and laws for governing their people and land, Israel as a nation was born.

It all began when Abraham obeyed God’s call to him. Abram, as Abraham was known at the beginning, was called when he was living in a country called Ur in Mesopotamia. He was living a comfortable life when God called him to leave his country and his father’s house to travel to a land that God will show him. God promised to make a great nation out of him, bless him and make his name great. God will protect him. For all those who curse him will be cursed.

Down the centuries to this day, all families are blessed if they believe in Jesus Christ, the Saviour born of the line of the father of the Jews, Abram (Abraham). Abram, full of faith, obeyed the LORD. That is how it must be with us, too. God speaks and we must obey.

Thought: May I obey God like Abram did.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is amazing that Abram would leave a life of certainty for a life of uncertainty, to a land he has never been to. I know this is possible only because he had great faith. So teach me, Heavenly Father, to be like Abraham, to have faith and complete trust in you. This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen