Abraham’s Surrender

Read Matthew 1:2 & Genesis 12:1-9

I always remember skimming over the genealogy of Jesus, and thinking “I just want to read the parts where Jesus preaches and heals people and goes against everything that people expected of Him!” I never put much thought or value into His family tree, especially since Jesus is fully human and fully God. But, since then, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the list of people in Jesus’ line, because so many of them gave up so much, in order to play their part in making a way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus.  

In reading Matthew 1:2, we see that Abraham is the first member of Jesus’ family to be mentioned. In Genesis 12, God tells Abram “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” From the very beginning, we see that God is asking Abram to give up his country, a country that Abram’s family has loved for generations. Abram is asked to give up his people, a people that he has spent his life getting to know and love. He then is asked to go to a new, unfamiliar land, a place that is, quite possibly, not as good as his homeland. God promises Abram that He will bless those who bless him, and will curse those who curse him. He promises that all people will be blessed through Abram. God would transform this childless man, Abram, into Abraham, Father of all nations, the forefather of the people into which the Messiah would be born. He was the first to surrender so that King Jesus could be glorified. 

When I look at Matthew 1:2, I cannot help but see that God knew exactly what He was doing through each person in this list. Each would bring us one generation closer to the Son, who is “before all things, and in Him all things are held together.”
(Colossians 1:17) Take some time to be quiet before God and ask Him what he is inviting you to surrender today.  

For Family Discussion: How would you feel if God asked you to give up everything and move to a new place where you didn’t know anyone? 

For Personal Reflection:
What are the blessings of surrendering to God? Do you feel the Holy Spirit’s urge for you to surrender something to Him now? 

by Gabriel Douglas