Abraham's faith journey #2

 August 27, 2020 (Thursday)

 

I am attempting to trace the development of Abraham’s faith. When we first meet him, he is Abram. In Genesis 12:1 God calls Abram to leave land and family to go someplace. Abram might have had an idea he was completing his father’s quest (see Genesis 11:31) and he might have known this was the God of Noah. 

 

Abram’s response, “So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed….” [Genesis 14:4a NLT] Notice Abram left as instructed. There seems to be no hesitation, no questioning, and no arguing with the instructions. Please notice, God has issued an invitation. It is up to Abram to respond. Abram’s immediate obedience is his life long pattern.

 

Abram’s response was also complete. We are told, “He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan.” [Genesis 12:5 NLT] This set an example for his decedents leaving Egypt. He did not go alone, he took his family. He took everything, including ALL his wealth, livestock, and the people in his household. There was no safety net, nothing to anchor him to Haran, and nothing to draw him back. Faithful obedience requires no options, no plan B, and no parachutes.

 

In Genesis 12:7 God speaks to Abram again, “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” [NLT] Abram’s response is worship. This is the first time he builds and alter and dedicates it to God. Worship seems to be a constant in Abram’s life.

 

As Abram continues to move, he continues to worship. “After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.” [Genesis 12:8 NLT] So, it seems Abram is off to a good start. But life tends to be more complicated than obedience and worship.

 

Enter problems. Difficult circumstances become a test for character and faith. Abram is no exception. “At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.” [Genesis 12:10 NLT] This begins a long and complicated relationship between Abram, Egypt, and Abraham’s descendants.

 

Through this long story, Egypt becomes shelter, salvation, and slavery for Abraham and his offspring. Jeremiah warned the people to not take shelter in Egypt. However, Joseph was commanded to shelter Jesus in Egypt to save His life. At one point, in the Exodus story, Egypt becomes the example of God pouring out His wrath on a nation. However, in end time prophecy, God has a word of blessing and encouragement for them.

 

It is in Egypt where Abram’s character flaw, generates sin; lying. In fear Abram suggests to his wife Sarai, “When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!” So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.” [Genesis 12:12 – 12 NLT] It seems strange, Abram trusted God enough to obey completely in leaving his family. But not now it is fear, not faith, ruling his actions.

 

In the grip of fear Abram lies. Fear is a tool of Satan, who turns out to be the “father of lies.” Kind of hard to see Abram as a child of the devil, but listen to Jesus: “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” [John 8:44 NLT]

 

There is an old adage, “Never meet your hero.” But that is exactly what we need to do. How can Abram, the father of faith, be incurably fearful? How can the one we look to as the father of our religious tradition be a liar? Stay tuned, it gets worse.