Daily text, Wednesday, December 28. 2016

[Queen Esther]

I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you.—Gen. 12:2.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dt/r1/lp-e/2016/12/28

When Jehovah directed Abraham to move his household to the land of Canaan, he willingly complied. Because of Abraham’s faith and obedience, Jehovah established the above-mentioned covenant with him. Years later, however, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were still childless. Had Jehovah forgotten the promise that he had made to Abraham? Moreover, life in Canaan was not easy. Abraham and his household had left behind their home and relatives in Ur, a prosperous city in Mesopotamia. They traveled over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to reach Canaan, where they lived in tents, endured famine, and faced marauders. (Gen. 12:5, 10; 13:18; 14:10-16) Yet, they had no desire to return to the comforts in Ur! (Heb. 11:8-12, 15) Rather than focus on “the things on the earth,” Abraham “put faith in Jehovah.” (Gen. 15:6; Col. 3:2) Yes, he fixed his mind on the things above in that he concentrated on God’s promises. w14 10/15 4:7, 8