Leap Day

Abram must have enjoyed a rather comfortable life in Ur of the Chaldees. The city enjoyed a sunny, warm climate. It touted a large, modern library, and houses in Ur came equipped with indoor plumbing. Not bad for an ancient city!

But one day God revealed Himself to Abram and commanded him to leave Ur and his relatives and go to an unspecified land (Gen. 12:1). He promised a great nation would arise from Abram. He promised further to exalt and bless Abram and make him a blessing. Those who blessed Abram would be blessed, but those who cursed him would be cursed. All families of the earth would be blessed through Abram (vv. 2, 3).

So how did Abram respond to God’s command and promises? Would he leave pagan worship and obey the living and true God? Would he leave the comforts of home to follow God into an unknown future? Would he value God over relatives and friends?

What would you do in similar circumstances?

Genesis 12:4 wraps the answers into one definitive statement: “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him” Abram took far more than a big step of faith; he took a giant leap of faith.

Today is February 29, an extra day in the calendar year because 2008 is a leap year.
This may be an excellent day for a leap of faith. What has God commanded us to do? How will we respond?

Abram didn’t own a GPS device. He did have even a road map. He certainly didn’t have tourist brochures about Canaan, the land God would later show him. But He did have
God’s command and promises. That was sufficient for him, and His commands and promises ought to be sufficient for us.

Ready! Set! Leap!