“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you."
The story of Abraham has always had so many facets. But the constant one is the one of his friendship with God.
This friendship seems to have existed before the call to live his home.
The story of the call of Abraham, God's promise of a son in his old age and the birth of Isaac are so fantastic they seem unreal.
Until you put them in context.
1. Abraham Was a Friend of God.
In Genesis 12:1
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee."
From reading this scripture, one can see that Abraham and God were in the habit of talking. It seems like this definitely wasn't the first time Abraham was hearing God. And we know from Mary's story that when God shocked or surprised people, it was written about. Here, there is not time spent on his reaction.
Abraham had a relationship with God, who told him to get up and go, and Abraham went. No questions asked.
It shows me that Abraham trusted God, and that he also knew God's voice.
Until you put them in context.
1. Abraham Was a Friend of God.
In Genesis 12:1
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee."
From reading this scripture, one can see that Abraham and God were in the habit of talking. It seems like this definitely wasn't the first time Abraham was hearing God. And we know from Mary's story that when God shocked or surprised people, it was written about. Here, there is not time spent on his reaction.
Abraham had a relationship with God, who told him to get up and go, and Abraham went. No questions asked.
It shows me that Abraham trusted God, and that he also knew God's voice.
To know God's voice requires a familiarity with it. To know God's presence requires a familiarity with it.
Before we ask ourselves how we can have the faith of Abraham we need to ask ourselves how much time we spend in the presence of our Father. How much have we trained ourselves to obey even when it puzzles us? How well have we trained ourselves to hear Him when He speaks? How familiar are we, with God's Word?
2. Abraham Put His Faith in God
When we believe on the small things our faith grows. When a child is growing up and they are about to fall and their father catches them, pretty soon they make it a game. They start falling from heights to get a daddy catch. And that is how we should excercise our faith muscles.
I believe that the reason God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise is that He is reminding us that He does not play by our rules. He does not relate with our biases. He does not use our measuring scales. He is God Most High and His Ways are not our ways. So to know Him takes courage. To trust Him will sometimes mean foolishness to the world.
In my P.7 I was very poor in math. So poor in fact that it had become the class joke because despite acing the other subjects, maths was a trial. A real trial. So come a pre-PLE exam. I lived in a small town where everyone knew everyone. And we were due to do an exam that another school in the district had done earlier. The parents from the other school shared the paper with the parents of my school. I remember my parents asking me to revise the papers. I had been borne again two years by then and I was on fire! So I said no. That would be cheating. They encouraged me saying everyone was doing it. And I remember my classmates openly carrying the papers around. I still refused. My friends even told me that even if I read the paper, being me and my relationship with numbers, I couldn't get a 100%. I still refused.
So D-Day came and we sat for the paper. I remember going home crestfallen, knowing that they had been right. The paper was the same one. Everyone was prepared for it, and I wasn't. I who was so poor in this subject. And the paper had been tough. As I went home, I thought of all the time I had told people that I wouldn't cheat and that God would help me. I remembered some of the things they said. Like God helps those who help themselves etc. I was low. Really low.
That day, I did lose my way...a little.
I was stumbled quite a bit, because it seemed I had been presumptious, or foolish in my actions.
A week later the results came back. Our headmaster was our math teacher. I remember him calling out a friend and saying she got 100%. Everyone clapped.
Then he started adding up marks loudly
"4,9,14, Pheona Nabasa come forward!"
He called.
You could have had a pin drop!
Everyone was darting pitiful looks my way. My jaw was open in horror. I was thinking ...
"Really God? 14%?"
"Pheona are you here?" Mr Gawaya bellowed;
"Yes." I whispered barely able to breathe with all the grief that was welling up in me. As I began what was a really long painful trek to the front,I started sobbing. Big dramatic sobs that shook my little scrawny body (I was quite skinny). I picked my paper in shame, and turned dejectedly to walk to my seat.
"Why don't you tell us your mark Pheona?" The HM drawled.
"14" , I barely whispered.
"Read the mark on your paper" ,he insisted.
I looked at my paper. I looked again. And then my eyes bulged.
"Tell the class your marks" he encouraged. By now I had the attention of everyone in class. But I didn't care. I could barely breathe. "98" I gasped. "98%", I said again in wonder as what I was looking at slowly began to sink in.
"Yes ladies and gentlemen! Our Pheona got 98% And she would have got 100% but I deducted 2% because it is Pheona. I mean... we all know Pheona and maths!"
I was rooted to the spot. My friends were cheering for me. Because you see in that moment, the most wonderful thing happened. I saw Him. I saw how He saw me. I realised that I mattered. To Him. If God had filled that classroom with tulips or roses I couldn't have been more convinced in that moment than I was by this that He loved me.
Before we ask ourselves how we can have the faith of Abraham we need to ask ourselves how much time we spend in the presence of our Father. How much have we trained ourselves to obey even when it puzzles us? How well have we trained ourselves to hear Him when He speaks? How familiar are we, with God's Word?
2. Abraham Put His Faith in God
When we believe on the small things our faith grows. When a child is growing up and they are about to fall and their father catches them, pretty soon they make it a game. They start falling from heights to get a daddy catch. And that is how we should excercise our faith muscles.
I believe that the reason God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise is that He is reminding us that He does not play by our rules. He does not relate with our biases. He does not use our measuring scales. He is God Most High and His Ways are not our ways. So to know Him takes courage. To trust Him will sometimes mean foolishness to the world.
In my P.7 I was very poor in math. So poor in fact that it had become the class joke because despite acing the other subjects, maths was a trial. A real trial. So come a pre-PLE exam. I lived in a small town where everyone knew everyone. And we were due to do an exam that another school in the district had done earlier. The parents from the other school shared the paper with the parents of my school. I remember my parents asking me to revise the papers. I had been borne again two years by then and I was on fire! So I said no. That would be cheating. They encouraged me saying everyone was doing it. And I remember my classmates openly carrying the papers around. I still refused. My friends even told me that even if I read the paper, being me and my relationship with numbers, I couldn't get a 100%. I still refused.
So D-Day came and we sat for the paper. I remember going home crestfallen, knowing that they had been right. The paper was the same one. Everyone was prepared for it, and I wasn't. I who was so poor in this subject. And the paper had been tough. As I went home, I thought of all the time I had told people that I wouldn't cheat and that God would help me. I remembered some of the things they said. Like God helps those who help themselves etc. I was low. Really low.
That day, I did lose my way...a little.
I was stumbled quite a bit, because it seemed I had been presumptious, or foolish in my actions.
A week later the results came back. Our headmaster was our math teacher. I remember him calling out a friend and saying she got 100%. Everyone clapped.
Then he started adding up marks loudly
"4,9,14, Pheona Nabasa come forward!"
He called.
You could have had a pin drop!
Everyone was darting pitiful looks my way. My jaw was open in horror. I was thinking ...
"Really God? 14%?"
"Pheona are you here?" Mr Gawaya bellowed;
"Yes." I whispered barely able to breathe with all the grief that was welling up in me. As I began what was a really long painful trek to the front,I started sobbing. Big dramatic sobs that shook my little scrawny body (I was quite skinny). I picked my paper in shame, and turned dejectedly to walk to my seat.
"Why don't you tell us your mark Pheona?" The HM drawled.
"14" , I barely whispered.
"Read the mark on your paper" ,he insisted.
I looked at my paper. I looked again. And then my eyes bulged.
"Tell the class your marks" he encouraged. By now I had the attention of everyone in class. But I didn't care. I could barely breathe. "98" I gasped. "98%", I said again in wonder as what I was looking at slowly began to sink in.
"Yes ladies and gentlemen! Our Pheona got 98% And she would have got 100% but I deducted 2% because it is Pheona. I mean... we all know Pheona and maths!"
I was rooted to the spot. My friends were cheering for me. Because you see in that moment, the most wonderful thing happened. I saw Him. I saw how He saw me. I realised that I mattered. To Him. If God had filled that classroom with tulips or roses I couldn't have been more convinced in that moment than I was by this that He loved me.
It is the most beautiful thing in the world to feel the love of God.
As Mr. Gawaya continued to read out people's names, I sat and lived this moment. This moment that God had come through for me.
That God had honored my faith.
That God had forgiven my moments of doubt.
I remember walking home on air.
As I entered the door my Mum was just laying the phone down. One of her friends must have been talking about how well their child had performed, because she looked at me and without greeting asked
"What did you get?"
I looked at her and the stupidest grin grew on my face as tears welled up.
"He did it Mommy!He did it!."
I shoved the paper at her. I was experiencing joy. Not the kind that makes you want to dance. But the kind that makes you want to curl up in a corner and cry.
"What did you get?"
I looked at her and the stupidest grin grew on my face as tears welled up.
"He did it Mommy!He did it!."
I shoved the paper at her. I was experiencing joy. Not the kind that makes you want to dance. But the kind that makes you want to curl up in a corner and cry.
Mom was overwhelmed and happy and also weepy. I remember her saying,
"Kwonka Pheona and your God!"
And it made me swell inside. Yes He was my God!
I can assure you that was a miracle in my life. When she got born again later she testified that that was one of those aha moments for her.
And it was the beginning of many for us as a family because shortly after, not only was I the best in PLE in my school but apparently Eastern Region. You would wonder at God's reason for this until you read below;
This girl, whose Dad had just lost a job, got a fully paid scholarship for O'Level from the Uganda Commercial Bank for this achievement!
It was also the beginning of a better relationship with numbers. And my performance only got better after that.
What am I saying? You do not need to have known God as long as 75 year old Abraham, for Him to come through for you. Faith moves God. However small the issue, it matters to Him. When He calls, we need to remember to heed His call. There are moments we need to listen for. Those moments when sin tempts..those moments when it costs the most to walk the road less traveled, those are the moments He needs you to choose Him. Because He chose you already.
Your faith opens taps. Taps of blessings. Abraham's faith and obedience opened taps of blessings. Isaac came forth, Abraham prospered wherever he went. He surped with kings, found favor all over, and won every war he ever engaged in.
What is that situation in your life right now, where you need to choose him?
How much time are you spending with Him? As I write this, I am also convicted. Let us indulge in this loving miraculous God. Who knows our inmost thoughts, and wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams.
3. Abraham Obeyed God
When God asked Abraham to leave all and move, he did. When he asked him to sacrifice Isaac, he did. Abraham's faith was visible in his obedience.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.'” John 14:23
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24
“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” Proverbs 10:17
God has proven over and over that He is Faithful. You and I being alive and safe during this Covid19 are living proof of that. Obedience is one of those cementing things that glue you to His will. Faith is reflected in our obedience and faith moves God.
So let's get back on this walk of faith. As we rediscover His Word, His purpose for us, and how He has promised to accomplish it.
God Bless You.
This girl, whose Dad had just lost a job, got a fully paid scholarship for O'Level from the Uganda Commercial Bank for this achievement!
It was also the beginning of a better relationship with numbers. And my performance only got better after that.
What am I saying? You do not need to have known God as long as 75 year old Abraham, for Him to come through for you. Faith moves God. However small the issue, it matters to Him. When He calls, we need to remember to heed His call. There are moments we need to listen for. Those moments when sin tempts..those moments when it costs the most to walk the road less traveled, those are the moments He needs you to choose Him. Because He chose you already.
Your faith opens taps. Taps of blessings. Abraham's faith and obedience opened taps of blessings. Isaac came forth, Abraham prospered wherever he went. He surped with kings, found favor all over, and won every war he ever engaged in.
What is that situation in your life right now, where you need to choose him?
How much time are you spending with Him? As I write this, I am also convicted. Let us indulge in this loving miraculous God. Who knows our inmost thoughts, and wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams.
3. Abraham Obeyed God
When God asked Abraham to leave all and move, he did. When he asked him to sacrifice Isaac, he did. Abraham's faith was visible in his obedience.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.'” John 14:23
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24
“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” Proverbs 10:17
God has proven over and over that He is Faithful. You and I being alive and safe during this Covid19 are living proof of that. Obedience is one of those cementing things that glue you to His will. Faith is reflected in our obedience and faith moves God.
So let's get back on this walk of faith. As we rediscover His Word, His purpose for us, and how He has promised to accomplish it.
God Bless You.
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