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Genesis 12:1-3 1Now 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: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

1. Trust 2: 1-9

Here is a man who leaves the seen for the unseen. He literally steps out by Faith on the Word of God. He didn’t even know exactly where he was going, but he knew of the promise God gave him when he got there.  God calls to Abram and he responds by leaving it all behind. He leaves Ur, a prosperous city of wealth and luxury for Canaan, a barbarous land of heathens. He steps out on by faith, putting his trust in the Lord. 

Notice something; in verse 7 God appears to Abram again. In order for God to appear to Abram the second time, Abram had to respond and OBEY God.  God tells Abraham in verse 7 “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” Here is a man who acted on faith, continued to put His trust and God and patiently waited for the Lord by continuing to move in the direction God had called Him. Prov 3:5b “lean not unto thine own understanding” I’m sure Abram’s own understanding of this land was not positive, but he trusted God and when he heard the voice of God he pitched his tent and built an altar.

Hebrews 11:8 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

A 400-mile journey, not even knowing the exact destination. Do you trust in God? I mean do you really Trust in God?

Trust (Hebrew Word)

2. to have confidence, be confident 3. to be bold 4. to be secure

There are a many of Christians today who say they trust God, but base their decisions on statistics, finances, stock market, housing market, professional opinions. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” and you can tell after talking to them for a while they put their trust and make their decisions in earthly things. Now, a person who truly Trust in God can be misunderstood, even by the Church. They may ask “why do you continue to work where you work? Why don’t go here, or go there? Why don’t you move? Why don’t have more of this or less of that?” (illustration of the system and rushing God’s plan)  God does not work on our time ( makes us wait, He tests us and puts us through trials) The question is what does God want you to do? Where is He leading you. Oh do you trust Him, friend?

2. Trials: 12:10-20

Genesis 12:9 9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Genesis 12:10 10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

Notice something, God does not tell Abram to do this! “Lean not unto thine own understanding”. Here is where Abram leans on his own understanding and backslides. Abram steps out by Faith, put’s his trust in God, God confirms he is where he should be, he builds an altar and then what happens? He keeps going. Bethel= house of God, Hai = a heap of ruin. Abram found the house of God but for whatever reason kept going to a heap of ruin and boy is that what resulted.

• A famine hits, so Abram goes down to Egypt and notice what comes next.

Genesis 12:11-13 11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

• Here is the Father of a nation, relying on his flesh and now using trickery and deceit as a strategy to get out of trouble. Even though Sarai was his half sister, she was still his wife. There is no such thing as a half lie. Abram lied to keep his family safe. Was this of God? Absolutely not.
• Genesis 12:17-20 17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. 18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
• What did God originally say to Abram when He called him? Genesis 12:2 “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”
• God did not call Abram out of Ur (sin) and set him apart to have him go in his own direction. He did not call him to go plague the house of Pharaoh. God called Abram to a blessing. Child of God, God did not call you to be a homewrecker. God did not call you to sew discord in his house. God did not call you to be a stumbling block to others. This is what happens when we lean on our own understanding. This is what happens when we backslide and get out of God’s Will. We wander from place to place and cause trouble wherever we go.

A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.