… blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore … – Genesis 22:17 (NKJV)
The patriarch Abraham (Abram) descended from a family of idol worshippers and sellers. Abraham himself detested this way of life and decided to follow God’s instruction and direction to a place which He would give to him and to his descendants after him. Because of his obedience God made a covenant with Abraham “… for all the land which you see I give to you your descendants forever.” – Gen. 13:15 (NKJV).
Abraham encountered many challenges as he pursued a righteous relationship with God. He left behind the practices he grew up with, the idols he likely would have helped to make, and the income that went with it. He endured separation from Lot, his nephew (giving Lot the benefit of better-looking pasture lands), to stem the strife between Lot’s herdsmen and his own and later had to raise an army from his own household to defeat the enemies who came against Lot. He lied to protect himself when he went into Egypt because he feared Pharoah. But God intervened and delivered him every time.
Luke 4:8 says, worship the Lord thy God, serve Him only. When we make a decision to follow God and live by His Word, we encounter difficulties we likely have never seen. Our break from generational beliefs and practices can cause separation from family and friends, loss of ‘benefits’, and a readjustment of our very way of life. But even as our faith is tested and as we pursue the path of holiness, God is faithful and brings us through.
Many of us also can attest to the fact that God, by His Spirit, showed us a different way which when we pursued, resulted in God’s abundant favour and blessing on our lives. This way we get to know who God is, that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, and we experience “His righteousness to children’s children” – Psalm 103:17.
Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18 “… and these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name they will cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;..”. This is the power available to every believer, the power to break curses that have come down from generations and seem to be entrenched in our family line; once we believe.
Prayer
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in every generation, and even when we strayed, You remain faithful. We give You thanks for Your steadfast love and power You invested in us to tread upon and overcome difficult situations. Thank You for the whole armour that we have been given to guard against every attack. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Read: Genesis 22; Deuteronomy 6:13; Exodus 20:4-5
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 16:18-27; Acts 25:23-27; Acts 26:1-23; 2 Kings 14:23-29; 2 Kings 15
