The preacher who confronts the three stated texts for this Sunday once again faces the confusing situation of wondering how on earth the three lessons are related. Perhaps several answers are possible, but to my mind, all three of them have to do with living by a promise.

 

In the context of our Genesis text, Abraham and Sarah and their households have obeyed the command of God and left Ur of the Chaldees (v. 7; cf. 11:31), settled temporarily at Haran in Mesopotamia, and then journeyed on to Canaan, the land that God showed them. They were promised that the land would belong to them and their descendants, and that they would become the forbears of a great nation (Genesis 12:1-7).

 

Now, however, Abraham and his company simply wander through the land that still belongs to the Canaanites. B…