Footsteps to Zion

  The story of Abraham and Lot shows man’s different responses to the voice of God. While both of them heard God’s voice, only one of them obeyed. In the lives of Lot’s family, we see the hindrances to obeying God but in the life of Abraham, we see the keys and benefits to walking according to His voice. We learn from this story the truth that what’s more important than hearing the voice of God is actually obeying it. Lot: A Man Who Followed the Voices of Practicality and Fear As their family began their journey from Ur to Canaan, Lot was just tagging along with them, simply following the direction of his Grandfather Terah and Uncle Abraham (Gen. 11:31, Gen. 12:5). However, there came a time when Lot finally had to decide on his own. In Genesis 13:8-9, his Uncle Abraham left him with a decision to make on where to go and live. This revealed the true condition of Lot’s heart. Lot looked and saw the plain of Jordan that it was well-watered and so he chose this plain (Gen. 13:10-1...

The Lord promised that He will come back. But He tells us in James 5:7 that we ought to wait in patience like a farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth. In Isaiah 51:1-3, we are called to look to the rock from which we were hewn. The rock referred to is Abraham - a man who was given a promise of countless descendants and yet had to endure much waiting before the promise came to pass. These two passages are a reminder to us of how before fruitfulness comes, we are called to patiently wait. Isaiah 51:3 is an excellent promise of how Zion will not be desolate forever because a time is coming that her waste places and deserts will be like the garden of the Lord. We can look forward to a time when barrenness will be transformed to fruitfulness, sorrow into joy, and mourning into singing! Promises Come with Instructions In Gen. 12:1-3, Abraham was given a promise by the Lord that He is going to bless him and make him a great nation. God’s keeping will be upon him si...