Look to Abraham 1

Wednesday 25 May
READ: Isa. 51:1-2
MORE LESSON: Gen. 12:1-10

There is a clear instruction in today's reading that calls all seekers of God to attention: Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him: Isa.51:2. Abraham is one unique man whose name is a reference point in most religions. Across generations his life before God is a pivotal story in the history of the Jews and Christians. All worshippers of God in these religions are told to follow Abraham’s pattern in serving God. What was the peculiarity of father Abraham that Jehovah God could ask men of all generations to emulate him? Some people have suggested that the reason why Abraham lives on though dead is because he is the father of faith, the friend of God and the centre of the covenant that God instituted with both the physical and spiritual Israelites. I quite agree with all these but the real reason why Abraham's life is still speaking, though he has been dead for thousands of years now is his OBEDIENCE. This characteristic of Abraham is what God asks us to look unto in this great patriarch's life. Abraham had his faults as every man born of a woman has but he uniquely obeyed God.
Genesis chapters 11-25 reveal Abraham's life of obedience to God. We will trace some together so that each one of us will really be able to “look unto Abraham”. He obeyed God when he was told to leave his roots and origin in his father's house to follow God (Gen.12: 1-5). He obeyed God and preferred Lot to himself though he was older and brought Lot his nephew out of Ur. He asked Lot to choose before him the portion of the land he preferred, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves: Phil.2:3.
Abraham obeyed God in paying tithes (Gen.14:20). No wonder he was a prosperous man. Hear the testimony of Abraham's servant about him: And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men servants, and maid servants, and camels and asses: Gen. 24:35. Do you want to be great? then, follow Abraham's pattern and tithe all that God gives you as income; and you will enter into material prosperity like father Abraham. He obeyed God by believing God's promises to him even in contrary circumstances, And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith giving glory to God: Rom.4:19-20. Will you be considered righteous in God's sight? Then believe the promises of God no matter what you are passing through now.

Prayer/Action
* I receive help from God to emulate Abraham the father of faith.
* Lord, give me strength to live a life of obedience to You.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I remove my name and family from any demonic calendar and programme, in the name of Jesus.