Daily Thought for Thursday 30th April 2026
“… in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:3b (NRSV)
Who? ME?
Robin Hill
Imagine how it might have felt being Abram, living a sweet, quiet life in a place called Haran. We might imagine him seeking nothing more than a gentle, leisurely old age with Sarai. Indeed, perhaps you don’t need to do any imagining if, like him, you are in your mid-70s or over. Even I can think ahead to such a time, picturing in my mind’s eye the walking, the kayaking, the reading, the music-making, plus maybe a little pulpit supply of an occasional Sunday. Sounds, all in all, really quite appealing.
Now here comes something of a change of gear, as out of the blue God says in tones clear and true: “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.”
This must have come as a shock to the system for old Abram. “Who? ME?” he could have been forgiven for uttering, before remembering his place and adding one more, very important word. “Me, Lord? Hang on a minute … if I might be so bold, that is. You see …”
And from that point on a whole stream of reasons and excuses might have flooded out from his trembling lips, showing why this, that, and the next thing would be impossible. Quite simply impossible. (And for a whole range of reasons too, not one of which would have involved kayaks.)
Yet immediately after verse 3 comes verse 4. And there we see full clear the kind of person God was dealing with that day. Verse 4 gives us three plain, simple, awe-inspiring words: “So Abram went …”
These words might teach us a thing or two about old Abram and the new life he was taking on as an already elderly man. And (whatever age we might be) they could also serve as a bit of a lesson to each one of us.
Shall we pray?
God of the encounter, help me to heed your call, going precisely where you call me. Amen.
Robin Hill is minister of Gladsmuir linked with Longniddry, a member of the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders Mission Committee, and founder of the Heart & Soul Swing Band.