What kind of attributes of God can we green from the story of Abraham?
27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran became the father of Lot. 28 And Haran died in the presence of Terah his father in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans.29 Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. 30 And Sarai was barren; she had no child.
31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to go to the land of Canaan; and they came as far as Haran and settled there. 32 And the days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran. – Genesis 11:27-32
Before God called Abraham (originally Abram), he was the oldest son and living with his father. Married to Sarai, I can only speculate why, but at a late age, he is moving with his father to a from Ur to Haran. What made Abram so special? What were his qualifications that God would choose him to lead the way for what would become God’s chosen people?
The was no Bible, there was no Gospel. but there were probably many pieces of history and stories about God, the Flood, community and family history and the genealogies. Abram was not a member of a church but he did appear to be a devout and loyal family member, an oldest son who would take Lot, his youngest brother’s son (who died early), under his leadership.
Was Abram unique in some way? What did God choose him?
Some things we know about God are helpful in understanding the situation.
God is Sovereign, His will will be done. Throughout the Bible we can see how God works through people who are willing , by faith, to take on the actions that are acknowledged to be instructions and guidance by God.
Although God’s plan could have involved another person, the critical balance is God Word came to Abraham’s willingness to obey.
All people, including Abraham, were sinners, but when we learn to trust God and obey his instructions, in the pre-Messianic Era, people were justified by their Faith. People are now justified by faith, but faith in the revealed the Son of God, the promised Savior and ultimately, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Just like Abraham was called by faith, as an individual, without any elaborate rituals of membership application. Even though you may not be a member of a church or a religion other than Christianity, you could be called individually by God for a faithful response to the Gospel.
Here’s the words from God that inspired Abraham to depart his known surroundings for an adventure with a vision of the future brimming with glorious promises, most of which would not be seen in Abraham’s lifetime.
And Yahweh said to Abram,
“Go forth from your land,
And from your kin
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
4 So Abram went forth as Yahweh had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 So Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go forth to the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. – Genesis 12:1-5`
For those of you who are new to the Bible, the story of Abraham is part of the entire narrative that is the Bible, including, how God Created the heavens the earth and man, how Man messed things up and causes everyone to die because of sin, and how God, through His Grace creates a way that sinful man can be redeemed to a restored relationship with God.
Abraham’s plays a crucial role in that the Holy Lands of Canaan are established and through Abraham’s seed will a great nation.
After further life challenges, stories of Abraham making good and bad decisions, yet protected by God, is this passage from Genesis 15 which is important and contains a significant amount of prophecy that is both detailed and reassuring that God remains faithful and true across time and history, including long periods of suffering:
After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”
2 And Abram said, “O Lord Yahweh, what will You give me, as I go on being childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no seed to me, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He brought him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.” 6 Then he believed in Yahweh; and He counted it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” 8 And he said, “O Lord Yahweh, how may I know that I will possess it?” 9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and split them into parts [j]down the middle and laid each part opposite the other; but he did not split apart the birds. 11 Then the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
12 Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation to whom they are enslaved, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”
17 Now it happened that the sun had set, and it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day Yahweh cut a covenant with Abram, saying,
“To your seed I have given this land,
From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”
Although in Abraham’s life, the specific mention of the Messiah coming from the Tribe of Judah is not made known until later in Genesis 49.
Abraham and Sarai’s journey starts with one miracle birth of their son Isaac. Yet the nation of Abrahams seed, is Biblically contested to be both physical and spiritual. The seed by blood is very important because Redemption from sin must come at a gravely extraordinary and yet very human price (i.e. the Gospel).
Throughout Old Testament times although the Israelites are clearly known as the people who worship the God of Heaven, there are several clear cases from Biblical history when God works through those who are willing, even though they are both inside the Jewish nation and the secular people, like King Nebuchadnezzar, King Cyrus, Namaan, the Assyrian General, and others like Rahab the prostitute from Jericho.
Although God has divine purpose for the Jewish people, though whom the glory of God is made from who the Messiah will arrive (or rather has already arrived and manifested Himself).
God continues to call people to saving faith and continues to promise eternal life in His Kingdom for ever. The question is, are you, like Abraham, willing to go on a life adventure with God as your guide?
Do you recognize there is only on true God? Are you ready to respond to how God is calling you?
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel from the late Pastor John MacArthur, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
All quoted excerpts have footnotes removed, usually from Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), sometimes from New International Version (NIV), on rare occasion the Amplified Bible (AMP).
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4-16-24