The word “proclaim” means to state publicly, make known, declare, decree. In the story of Abraham we see a picture of not only proclaiming the promise but when we should do so.
In Genesis 12:1-4 we read that the Lord tells Abram “Leave your land, your relatives, and your father’s home. Go to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation, I will bless you. I will make your name great… So Abram left, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.
Notice that before he was Abraham he was Abram which means high father, Abraham on the other hand means father of a multitude.
The Lord spoke to Abram about his future and the promises He had for him many times after he left Haran before He released Abram to proclaim them publicly. What began at age 75 continued until Abram was 99 when he was released to proclaim his new name that name being the promise.
What the Lord had spoken to Abram from the beginning He continued to build upon until Abram’s vision was clear and the matters were settled in his heart.
The Lord promised Abram land – “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, I’m going to give this land to your descendants,” Genesis 12:7.
The Lord promised Abram descendants – “I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants,” Genesis 13:16.
The Lord promised Abram a son, a seed, an heir – “This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir,” Genesis 15:4.
The Lord reveals the purpose for which He took Abram away from his father’s house – “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess,” Genesis 15:7.
Notice that the LORD did not tell Abraham when, only what His plans were until the time came very close for the promise to be fulfilled.
I believe God does this to protect us from speaking too soon because when we speak too soon the enemy can come and snatch the Word from us.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it,” Luke 11:28.
When God is ready to fulfill His promises He tell us because when you begin proclaiming the promise is as important as what you proclaim it.
The Lord tells ham to proclaim the promise– “You will become the father of many nations. So your name will no longer be Abram [Exalted Father], but Abraham [Father of Many] because I have made you a father of many nations…… I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”,” Genesis 17:4, 5 and 21. In changing Abram’s name to Abraham the Lord is telling Him to proclaim the promise.
A New Testament example of proclaiming the promise in Mary
The Bible says of Mary the mother of Jesus, she kept the things spoken to her about her son in her heart until the time was right: Luke 2:19 and 2:49-51 but then as the manifestation of Jesus’ glory drew near it was time to proclaim the word of God: John 2:1-5
The same thing happened to Abraham, the Lord waited many years, 24 to be exact before He released Abraham to publicly announce the promise by speaking his new name. Then, the Bible tells us in Genesis 21:1-5, “The LORD did as He had spoken a year later when Abraham was 100, at the exact time he said He would.”
There is a time to speak and a time to keep silent.
Beloved, seek God about when to speak publicly what he tells you privately and wait until you get the promise firmly established in your heart before you proclaim it to others.
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