Do Not Fear

Summary

When the promise is first given, it comes with a call for Abram to step out in faith, to follow God’s call to an unknown land and an unknown future: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 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 the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (12:1-3) He and Sarah pack up all their possessions, and head out with Abram’s nephew Lot.

There is, however, one barrier to the promise that we are told about in 11:30 before the promise is ever given. It’s a small, almost throw-away verse, 2 phrases, really, but they say the same thing: Now Sarah was barren; she had no child. This will need to be overcome if the promise is to be fulfilled.