Abraham

 August 22, 2020 (Saturday)

 

Genesis 12 shifts the story from humanity in general to the human line of Jesus. It begins, “The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you.” [Genesis 12:1 CEB] Notice this is ABRAM before he became ABRAHAM. There will be a point of choice (faith, obedience) where God will bless Abram with a name change, indicating a filling of the Holy Spirit. I will get to that in another study. Stay tuned!

 

Think about what God is asking Abram to do. LEAVE land and family. Who is that family? Did you know Noah was still alive when Abram was born? According to the genealogies, Abram would have been 58 when Noah died. This was 43 years before Isaac was born. Another fun fact, Noah’s son Shem out lived Abraham by 35 years.

 

Also remember, Abram’s father, Terah had already moved the family north. “ Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (son of Haran), and his son Abram’s wife, Sarai his daughter-in-law. They left Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan, and arriving at Haran, they settled there.” [Genesis 11:31 CEB] Terah never made it to his intended destination. He stopped in what we know as southeast Turkey along the Syrian border.

 

Terah started the journey but stopped. We do not know why. God called Abram to continue. Think about this call. Other than leaving a grieving father and the family wealth, it is an open ended call to go someplace. Yup, someplace God would show him. So, Abram left his father (who lived another 60 years).

 

Abram didn’t know where he was going, but he was not lost. He didn’t know how long he would be gone, but he must have assumed it was for life. He didn’t know what he would do when he got there, but did what he knew to do.

 

The only promise Abram had was, “I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing.” [Genesis 12:2 CEB] God promised Abram he would become a great nation. God promised Abram His blessing. Not much to go on, or is it?

 

One of the things were are going to see is as Abram progressed in his faith (belief), God brings greater blessings. Abram’s faith is special. Paul pointing this out declared, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” [Romans 4:20 – 21 ESV] Abram never hesitated, doubted, or second guessed God and God’s promises.

 

Abraham is, for Paul, the example of righteousness apart from “the law.” He didn’t belong to a nation, organization, or religion. Paul explains, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” [Romans 4:2 – 3 ESV]

 

Let me be clear, believing or having faith is not “works” (as some would suggest). Abraham simply believed God. God credited this belief as righteousness (being right with God). God takes the initiative, humans respond. While God may make promises (or covenants – legal contract) unilaterally; God requires us to believe. The promises of God require us to be vested. Faith leads to changed lives, obedience.

 

We obey because that is who we are. Changed.