Do you know what a promise is? A promise is when we say we are going to do something and then we do it. We can make promises to ourselves, to others, and to God.
Have you ever told someone that you would do something, and then did not do it? Sometimes we make mistakes, and we don’t keep our promises. But when God promises something, He always does what He says. Throughout the Bible God makes promises, and we see that He always keeps them.
Let’s read about a promise that God made to Abram.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
GENESIS 12:1-6 (NIV)
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
What do learn from this story about Abram?
ABRAM HAD FAITH IN GOD
In this passage in the Bible we read how God gave Abram the order to move from the country where he was living. God did not even tell Abram where he was moving to, but still Abram listened to God and obeyed him. Do you know why Abram obeyed the Lord? Because he trusted the Lord to keep his promises; he had faith in God. Faith means believing something to be true even if you can’t see it.
THE LORD KEPT HIS PROMISE TO ABRAM
God promises Abram that all people on earth will be blessed through him. That even includes us! God kept his promise to Abram. Abram was the father of the Israelites. And Jesus came into the world through them. Through Jesus we are blessed – just as Abram was.
Answer these questions:
- How old was Abram when God told him to move?
- Who else went with Abram?
- What are the promises that God made to Abram?
- How do you feel when someone breaks a promise to you?
- How do you feel when someone keeps a promise?
- Do you think it is important to keep your promises? Why?
Get the answers on the downloadable activity page.
