Abram - Four Surrenders

You cannot look into the future. You do not know what is going to happen to-morrow; in fact, you do not know what may happen before night; so it is much better to surrender in to the loving hands of our Father.

Abraham found this out, so let us to look at four surrenders that he was called to make.

Abraham was called to give up his kindred and his native country and to go out, not knowing whither he went.

• Genesis 12:1-4
  • Notice the promise
• Then he came to Haran which was about half-way there. He stayed there (we don't really know how long but some say about 5 years).
• Do we have a calling and are we in our own Haran?

Instead of standing up for his rights to choose the best of the land, he surrenders them.

• Genesis 13:8-9
  • Lots mistake is one that a lot of people have in common. He walked by sight, instead of by faith.
• Genesis 13:14-17
  • It was after Lot had left that God had Abram alone.
  • Abram let Lot chose of all that he could see, and it ended up being just that. Abram let God choose for him, and was given all the land.
• It is very interesting how God continued to build on his promise to Abram

There is another surrender when Abram is tempted to get rich at the hands of the King of Sodom.

• Genesis 14:18-24
  • Abram was not swayed by the temptation as he was walking in Gods promise.
• Genesis 15:1
  • God said "Fear not".
  • How would like to hear God say "Fear Not" as you are walking with him?
• Genesis 15:6

Now Abram had reached a place where he had learned to obey fully whatever God told him to do. It was then that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac to him on Mount Moriah.

• Genesis 22:1-2
  • Isaac was his son bore from Sarah.
• Genesis 22: 4
  • It was the "Third Day" that Abraham was at the end of his journey. Three days of traveling, and knowing that at the end he was to sacrifice his own son.
• Genesis 22:8-18
  • He heard and acted without objection or question.
  • It is interesting that ram was a substitute for Isaac and the blood of the "Lamb" (Jesus Christ) was the substitute for us. Just as interesting that Mount Moriah is near Mount Calvary.

In each of these surrenders that Abram did, could we have done them in his place? Are there things that we feel God wants us to surrender, but we have not been obedient? What is holding us back? What if we are one surrender away from living out our Chazown, and living a life of purpose in Christ?