Interruptible

Before we introduce this week's challenge, I want to take a walk with Abraham for a few minutes.

We hear a bit about Abraham's father in Genesis 11, but the story really begins in Genesis 12 -

The Lord said to Abram -
Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you...

I like to re-phrase this a bit for my own understanding -

Leave behind everything and everyone you know. It will be worth it, I promise.

Abraham (at this time Abram) arrives in the land and -

• Encounters a famine.
• Heads to Egypt
• Is saved by the Lord and returns to the land
• Splits with Lot
• Rescues Lot
• Meets Melchizedek (Wait, who?)

And we slow down again in Genesis 15 when, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid, Abram.
 I am your shield,
 your very great reward...

Look up at the sky and count the stars--if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be.

And after this, the Lord makes a covenant with Abram that this land would not only be his, but would be inherited by his descendants.

We fast-forward again through -

• Abram having Ishmael with Hagar
• God introducing circumcision (wait, what?)
• God saying - no, not through Hagar, but through Sarah you will have a son
• Abraham and Sarah try to teach God about biology, but God doesn't listen
• Abraham saves Lot again

We slow down one more time in Genesis 20 to find Abraham nervous again about an influential ruler and introducing Sarah as his sister.  

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him...

Don't touch Sarah or I'll kill you. (my paraphrase)

The story continues for a few more chapters, including -

• The birth of Isaac (apparently God is legit at biology)
• The willing sacrifice (Isaac deserves a lot of credit here)

Until the story of God building up His people through His promises continues with  the life of Isaac. If you're interested, feel free to review the full version from Genesis 12 to Genesis 25.

Why did we go through all this?

Because I want to point out Abrahams interruptibility and the ways that God interrupted.

It's easy to quote certain New Testament scriptures. Ephesians 3:20 for example -

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...

But what does that look like in real life? How are we invited to immeasurably more than we ask or imagine?

In many ways, Abraham seems like a pretty regular guy who was invited by interruptions of immeasurably more. He certainly didn't get everything perfect, but -

• He was called out of the blue to leave everything he knew.
• He was given an impossible vision of his inheritance and believed God.
• He and Sarah (and Abimelek) were saved by a dream from the Lord.

This week is about inviting God's interruption in our life as we see Abraham respond to the Lord's voice, a vision, and saved by a dream.

Remember

Has the Lord ever interrupted you?

• How did He do it?
• How did you respond?

Take a moment with the Lord and invite additional perspective. Does He have anything else to say?

This Week

Make yourself available for interruption.

When you wake up, invite the Lord's interruption to your day, "Holy Spirit, I have room for you to interrupt me today!"

When you get to work, or whatever your rhythm is, remind the Lord (and yourself), "Lord, I am ready for an interruption today!"

Before you go to sleep, "Father, I welcome an interruption from you!"