Genesis 11: This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.

Genesis 11: This is the account of Terah. 27 This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. Is there anything of note mentioned about any of these folks?

Genesis 11: This is the account of Terah. 27 This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. Sarai is childless, which is a huge cultural negative: no heirs.

Genesis 11: This is the account of Terah. 27 This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. The clan’s destination is where Abraham ends up called to go, but this journey stops in Haran.

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. If your heart beats at all, obey! Abram was 75 at this time. 12 Ecclesiastes 12

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. If your heart beats at all, obey! Violate your comfort zone. Progressive change is in the package. Those who were dead in their sins have not experience in doing what those who are alive in Christ do. We all have dealt with this. (The confrontation of sin is never comfortable)

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. If your heart beats at all, obey! Violate your comfort zone. Become inconveniencable ~ Moving is never convenient.

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. If your heart beats at all, obey! Violate your comfort zone. Become inconveniencable ~ Moving is never convenient. Drop the nets. (Matt. 4:18-22; Luke 9:57-62; 10:25-27; I Kings 19:19-20)

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. If your heart beats at all, obey! Violate your comfort zone. Become inconveniencable ~ Moving is never convenient. Drop the nets. (Matt. 4:18-22; Luke 9:57-62; 10:25-27; I Kings 19:19-20) You do not need to know everything in advance. “Trust and obey” or “Obey and trust”? (James 2:14-26) (“What if?” should not be in our vocabulary toward God. Isaiah 40.) (“What if?” should not be in our vocabulary toward God. Isaiah 40.)

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. If your heart beats at all, obey! Violate your comfort zone. Become inconveniencable ~ Moving is never convenient. Drop the nets. (Matt. 4:18-22; Luke 9:57-62; 10:25-27; I Kings 19:19-20) You do not need to know everything in advance. “Trust and obey” or “Obey and trust”? (James 2:14-26) How much do really know about tomorrow anyway? Planning is fine, just stay very flexible. (James 4:13-17) Planning is fine, just stay very flexible. (James 4:13-17) Our destination is far more who we are becoming than where we are going. (It was for Abram.).

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; Obedience places you where the blessing is. Jeremiah 29: (If he can do this for a nation, he can pretty easily do this for you!) Humanly not possible; Sarai is barren The path to God’s blessing is obedience. Not just not breaking rules, but following his plan/will for your life. Greatness must not be sought, rather Christ. Matthew 6:33; John 13

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. The people gathered at what became Babel sought this. This is up to God to grant, according to his plan. When man seeks this the result is tyranny. When God grants it the result is blessing..

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. The people gathered at what became Babel sought this. This is up to God to grant, according to his plan. Luke 14:7-11 ~ Seating yourself humbly John 13 ~ Wash feet: the Biblical path to leadership. Obedience by faith results in honor from God. Self exaltation is bondage to other’s opinions..

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. The people gathered at what became Babel sought this. This is up to God to grant, according to his plan. Luke 14:7-11 ~ Seating yourself humbly John 13 ~ Wash feet: the Biblical path to leadership. Be where God’s blessing is: humble obedience..

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; In the place of blessing, God has your back. Obedience take you to blessing

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” The best way to benefit others is to be obedient (from the heart)

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; 4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; Obedience can be complicated and a lot of work. (Packing camels is a lot harder than a U-haul.)

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram’s obedience needs a good measure of refinement. Whenever he walks out of obedience he walks out of God’s blessing and is quite on his own.

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” Again, the promise whose means were not possible, yet. God repeats the promise in the context of obedience. Obedience is the pavement to blessing. (This is a work in progress ~ sanctification)

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. He worshipped wherever he went. Worship ought not be convenient. Altars take time, effort and planning. (This is not to diminish spontaneous worship but rather to emphasize planned worship. Worship should not be a thrown together thing, indicating a low value of its object. Sunday mornings are carefully planned. It would be good to plan our personal worship as well.)

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. He worshipped wherever he went. Worship ought not be convenient. Altars take time, effort and planning. (This is not to diminish spontaneous worship but rather to emphasize planned worship. Worship should not be a thrown together thing, indicating a low value of its object. Sunday mornings are carefully planned. It would be good to plan our personal worship as well.)

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. He worshipped wherever he went. Worship ought not be convenient. Altars take time, effort and planning. Alters are public. Let folks know (peripateo and word)

The context of God’s blessing us. Not often easy, but it is the best. Trusting and obeying work together. Obedience should increase over time.

The context of God’s blessing us. Not often easy, but it is the best. Trusting and obeying work together. Obedience should increase over time. God has great things in store for you/us. God’s blessing is not based on our ability. God has your back (obedient context) God uses you to bless others. The proper response to God’s blessing us. Needs to cost us something. Needs to be consistent. Physical gathering/reflecting places.