Week 31 Step Out of Prison
GE 12:1-4; 15; 17:1-8

   Abram was stuck in Haran (named after his dead brother.) But the Lord came to him and spoke, “Move on. Leave your father’s house and name and follow the Way I present before you.” 
   There were promises made and movement happened. But he didn’t exactly leave his father’s house behind… He was still connected to his old name by his nephew, Lot.
   Movement towards Bethel where Abram called on the Lord to receive more direction and promises before he took a turn from the appointed path. He forgot the promise of protection. So, in order to save himself, he headed towards Egypt where a series of bad decisions (with a side of the Lord’s mercy) brought them back again to Bethel. And here Abram let go of his old identity in releasing Lot and accepting a life free from the past family prisons. And soon he would accept his new name. The Lord of Heaven and Earth, Abram’s Creator and original Father, revealed Abram’s true identity as Abraham, Father of Many. (My version of Genesis 12-17)

Lord, help me walk in my new name. Amen.

The lyrics below are from the song ‘ABRAHAM’ by Josh Baldwin. Find it…it’s worth a listen.   (https://youtu.be/zRZ2zleNiC4)

There is a mountain in between
What you have said
And what I see
Standing before this offering
My failing heart
Will fight to believe

*Chorus*
On this altar
On this road
You have called me from my home
The weight I carry is not my own
Spirit move this heart of stone
How can I walk in my New Name,
‘Father of Many,’
A promise you gave
And on this altar
And on this road
I lay down my flesh and bones

Here on this mountain
I have climbed
Wrestling doubts that flood my mind
When ashes and dust are all that remain
Will hope for the world still comes from my veins

(Chorus)

And I will sing out
Until I believe now
Your faithful to carry me
Oh I will sing out
Until I believe now
You’re faithful to carry me

(Chorus)

Genesis 12:1-4a 
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him…
Genesis 13:14-18 
The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Genesis 17:1-5 
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Rename yourself and follow the leader