Scripture to Read: Genesis 11:27-32
As we conclude Genesis 11 today, we should come to the text with the question, “What is next in God’s plan?” After confusing the language and spreading out sinful humanity because they had sought to make a name for themselves, what was God going to do next? He was going to display His grace. Just as He had judged humanity by confusing the language of all the earth and spreading them throughout the earth, He was going to reveal His grace to all the families of the earth (more to come in Genesis 12). God’s means of accomplishing His plan was through a man named Abram. We are introduced to Abram here at the end of chapter 11. Moving through the list of names in the genealogy, we should take note Abram is in the last set of names mentioned. In the coming chapters and throughout the rest of the Bible, Abram is an important figure. As we will see later, God makes a covenant with Abram and promises Him that Abram’s offspring will be many and they will be given a land. However, our passage highlights a problem: “Now Sarai was barren; she had no child” (v. 30). While God had not yet made His promise to Abram, it is important for us to notice this issue. Why? The reason is because not only will what happens unfold according to the plan of God, things will take place only by the power of God. God will continue the genealogy of Abram (leading to our Lord Jesus Christ) by calling Abram and making a covenant with by which He will provide a son in a seemingly impossible way from a human standpoint. Yet, it happens because not only was it possible, but it was promised by God and would happen by the power of God. The same is true for our salvation as it is only by the promise and power of God that we can find redemption and a relationship through Jesus Christ.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about how God accomplishes His plan?
2. How are you trusting in the promises of God even when human circumstances would tell you otherwise?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!