A great call

Genesis 12:1-9 (click the link to read the passages)

Although Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees and was therefore a Chaldean, he was a descendant of Shem and thus is in the line of Christ (Gen. 11:10-26). Little is known of his family, but we do know that his father was Terah, and that he married his half-sister Sarai. When God called him to leave the land where he lived and make his way to an unknown destination—“the land I will show you” (v. 1, NIV)—Abraham obeyed God without question and without hesitation. Although Abraham did not have a clear destination, he did have a clear promise: “I will bless you, and make your name great” (vs. 2, RSV).

Doubtless it was this promise which fired his faith and started him out on a march which, with hindsight, is one of the greatest marches of history.

For thought and contemplation:

When God calls us to do a new work or to accomplish something special for Him, His call is not always accompanied by a reason, but it is always accompanied by a promise. It is always easy to understand a promise, but not always easy to understand a reason.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6, NIV)

A great decision

Genesis 12:10-20 & chapter 13

Abraham’s journey into Egypt, which some think was done under his own volition and not by divine guidance, was shot through with heartache and failure. He lied about Sarai his wife to Pharaoh, saying she was his sister.

Eventually Abraham returned from Egypt in company with his nephew, Lot, and returned to the place where he had first built an altar (13:4). Strife between the herdsmen of Lot and the herdsmen of Abraham led to the decision to separate. Abraham gave Lot the first choice, whereupon he chose the rich plain of Jordan. After Lot and Abraham separated, God chose for Abraham and gave him the title deeds of all the land he could see.

For thought and contemplation:

When called upon to make a choice, do you first think of what God may want, or do you resort to the way of Lot who “chose for himself” (Gen. 13:11, NIV)? As one wag said: “Lot went for a lot and got a little.” Abraham finished up with the Promised Land. God always gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him.

“'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isa. 55:8-9, NIV)

A great rescue

Genesis chapters 14 & 15; Hebrews chapter 7

Lot, who is now living in the city of Sodom (14:12), is taken captive as a non-fighting civilian in the battle between king Chedorlaomer and Bera, the king of Sodom.

When Abraham heard of his nephew’s plight, he mounted a rescue operation which resulted not only in Lot’s deliverance, but in the acquisition of much wealth and possessions.

As Abraham and Lot returned from defeating Chedorlaomer, Melchizedek, a priest of the most high God, came to meet him. This priest, who was also the king of Salem, gave him refreshment and blessed him. Immediately Abraham took a gift of his own (a tenth) and gave it to the man of God. Here was established the principle of tithing which Abraham’s physical and spiritual descendants would follow.

For thought and contemplation:

How do you feel about tithing? Do you regard it as something that was ‘under the law’? Well, here you can see that the principle was established long before the law was given. Tithing is a Biblical principle, and Scripture encourages us to follow it.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb. 6:19-20, NIV)

A great mistake

Genesis chapters 16 & 20

After God had reconfirmed His promises to Abraham, all seems ready for him to be installed as the head of a new covenant with the promise of many descendants. His marriage to Sarai, however, does not produce a child, and he begins to entertain the idea of an adopted heir. God responds to this by saying, “A son coming from your own body will be your heir” (15:4, NIV). These words left no doubt that Abraham would become a father, but they gave no definite indication that Sarai would be the mother. Perhaps this may be one reason why Abraham responded so easily to Sarai’s suggestion to become intimate with her servant Hagar. When Ishmael is born, the home which before was a scene of bliss, sadly becomes a house of discord.

For thought and contemplation:

The delay that often occurs between God revealing His purposes and actually bringing them to pass is one of the greatest testing times in life. How careful we must be that we do not attempt to interfere with or ‘speed up’ the plans of God. That way is always a shortcut to disaster.

“…the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4, NIV)

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God's sevenfold promise to Abraham:

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A great change

Genesis chapter 17, 18:1-15 & 21:1-8

When Abraham is 99 years old, God appears to him and announces Himself under a new name: “I am God Almighty” (Hebrew: El-Shaddai—the nourisher of His people) (17:1, NIV). This announcement is followed by the news that Abraham’s name is to be changed—from Abram to Abraham. Sarai’s name is to be changed also—from Sarai to Sarah—and the first direct intimation is given that she is to be the mother of the promised seed, whose name is to be Isaac. These new revelations are accompanied by the announcement that every male child must be circumcised. Sarai’s response to the news that, at 90, she is to become a mother, is one of incredulous laughter. Nevertheless, what God promised 25 years previously comes to pass, and Isaac is born.

For thought and contemplation:

Did you notice that when God breathed His divine life into Abram and Sarai, thus enabling them to have a child, the letter He introduced into their names was the letter ‘h’? How wonderfully things change when God breathes into them. Take the word ‘impossible’, for example. See what it becomes – Him-possible.

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3, NIV)

A great intercession

Genesis 18:16-33 & chapter 19

Once before Abraham had saved Lot by rescuing him from the hands of king Chedorlaomer. On that occasion he went and personally brought him out of difficulty; this time he prays him out. Abraham’s intercession for Lot contains the ingredients that are common to all great intercessors: (1) boldness (v. 23); (2) pleading (v. 24); (3) argument (v. 25); (4) humility (v. 27); and (5) perseverance (v. 32). As a result of Abraham’s powerful intercession, God sent two angels to Sodom to rescue Lot and his family, but unfortunately Lot’s wife disobeyed the command not to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt.

For thought and contemplation:

How effective are you in your intercessions? Do your prayers for others contain the characteristics which show up time and time again in the great prayers of the Bible? Look up, for example, Isaiah’s great prayer in Isaiah 63 and see if you can spot these same five characteristics.

“…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18, NIV)

A great test of faith

Genesis chapters 22, 23 & 25:1-8; Hebrews 11:17

Isaac is already a young man when Abraham receives a command from God to offer him up as a sacrifice. Obedient and devoted Abraham makes the necessary preparations and climbs to the top of Mount Moriah—the appointed place of sacrifice. His hand is raised to kill his son when he hears the divine voice loud and clear saying that God does not desire the completion of the act but is satisfied with Abraham’s proved willingness.

The animal which is to be substituted in his son’s place stands ready by divine providence and is sacrificed for him. Without doubt this was the greatest test of faith which Abraham ever endured, and is seen by commentators as the most significant act of his life.

For thought and contemplation:

Have you ever considered that the theme of the Old Testament can be summed up in Isaac’s question on Mount Moriah: “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb?” (Gen. 22:7, NIV) And that question is wonderfully answered in the New: “Look, the lamb…who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NIV)

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13, NIV)