Monday: Abram the Father of the Faithful
God called Abram to leave his homeland and his kinfolk and go to a land that He would show him. Though details aren’t given, Abram had to leave the land of his birth and early years. Surely, it wasn’t an easy decision, and no doubt he gave up some earthly pleasure and conveniences to do it.
Read Genesis 12:1-3. How were “all the families of the earth … blessed” as a result of this promise and its acceptance?
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This was a major life-changing event for Abram and his family. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8, NKJV). “Abraham’s unquestioning obedience is one of the most striking evidences of faith to be found in all the Bible.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 126.
Most of us would not be eager to leave our homeland and our friends and family members. But Abram did so. Abram was satisfied to be where God wanted him to be. As strange as this may seem, Abram, Isaac, and Jacob never received that land in their lifetimes — yet they remained faithful to God anyway.
Read Hebrews 11:8-13. What is the relevant message to us here?
Abram was known as a prince by those living around him. He was known to be generous, brave, hospitable, and a servant of the Most High God. His witness for God was exemplary. By the grace of God, we are heirs with Abraham. “Just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:6-7, , NKJV). “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29, NKJV).
With Abraham, as with Noah, we see someone making a major life-changing decision as a result of obeying God.
| Read 2 Corinthians 4:18. How should the message of this verse impact the kind of spiritual decisions that we make? How did both Moses and Abraham follow that same principle? |
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Just a reality check here. Abraham was not a small family business. He was a mid-sized enterprise. When it came to fighting he could muster 318 fighting men and could mix it with the other armies that they encountered. If there were 318 men who could fight, how many others were there; wives, children, old folk, and so on? My guess is that the Abrahamic tribe was in the order of about 1000 people. I mention this because sometimes we limit our view of Abraham to about as many people as some artists can paint to meet a deadline. Abraham's family was a big organisation.
Moving them from Mesopotamia to Canaan was no mean feat. It is a distance of roughly 1500km using the fertile crescent as their route. I would imagine that the occupiers of the land they passed through were not pleased to see a crowd of about a thousand people and their flocks and herds, come over the horizon. Even if they ate a lot of goat stew, they were still going to need a lot of lentils and onions to make it palatable. And how much pasture can a goat eat? An awful lot. (If you don't believe me I can take you to parts of Australia where that landscape has been picked clean to goat stretching height!)
When God called Abraham to go to a far country, he called someone who was a good manager. And apparently, he was the sort of person who could make friends. He was held in respect by the other tribes around him. He did not increase his wealth by the defeat of others. And when it came to buying a bit of land to bury Sarah, he paid a fair price for it.
He could mix it with the captains and kings of his time. He wasn't always ethical and was a slow learner, trying to pass off Sarah as his sister a couple of times. Clearly, a man of faith has a few lessons to learn on the way.
We always like to mention the faith bit about Abraham, but that faith was worked out in the cut and thrust of interaction with other tribes and nations around him. Abraham was a man of faith, but he was also a learner.
I totally agree, Mr. Ashton. Abraham was truly faithful....
2 Corinthians 4:18 reads: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
The message of this verse encourages us to focus on our inner spiritual self, rather than the external material world around us. We should make the decision to prioritize our spiritual growth and development over any physical desires or worldly pursuits. The same principle was encapsulated by Moses and Abraham, who gave up their physical possessions, comforts, and relationships in order to pursue a greater spiritual goal. They embodied the truth of this verse, that our inner self is the true source of strength, joy, and peace.
Hello, sir. There is no doubt that the restoration and development of our inner self is of far greater value than any physical desires or worldly pursuits. However, as I see it, no good is to be accomplished by a focus on our inner spiritual self. Our inner self is not the source of anything good. (Romans 7:18)
Jesus is the only Source of strength, joy, and peace, and a focus on Him is our only hope. (Hebrews 12:2)
Amen to this, R.G. White. And just like in Genesis 1:1 where "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters..." God's Holy Spirit also moves upon our Human Spirit to empower us to do His Will and keeps alive even though we may fail Him at times and even "Often," in living for Him and serving Him too.
Thank you for your comment, Vanboven –
Yes, I agree, it is very important to recognize that we, as you say, need to “make the decision to prioritize our spiritual growth and development over any physical desires or worldly pursuits.”
Not taking our spiritual growth seriously enough in order to end our ‘race’ successfully, giving in to temptations to take our eyes off the ‘pearl of great price’, would take us back to what we left behind – Eph.4:18.
Isaiah 60:1-14 speaks to God’s beloved Jerusalem of old and the happiness experienced by His people when meeting Him there. Today, we look forward to His New Jerusalem - the culmination of God’s Glory here on earth to be inhabited by the faithful who have put first the development of their spiritual relationship with God above all else.
Prior to the fall, what was the state of Adam and Eve's heart? It was other-benefiting AND it trusted God.
What happened at the fall? Eve and Adam lost trust in God AND exchanged other-benefiting for self-seeking. Left un-remedied, this is humanity's terminal condition (Romans 5:12-14).
What is needed to repair this terminal condition? Restoration (via rebirth) back to a heart that once again trusts God AND is other-benefiting. This is why and how Abraham was 'considered' righteous (Galatians 3:6-7; Romans 4:21). Though Abraham wasn't 'perfect' in the way Christian's typically (mistakenly) consider 'perfection', he was authentic in his heart's desire to benefit others AND trust God (Romans 4:20)- and that's what is necessary (1 Samuel 16:7). This is why Paul was able to state what he said in Philippians 3:12-15. Does this give you hope?
2 Corinthians 4:16 is the verse that Vanboven quoted if you didn’t find it.
"Abram was satisfied to be where God wanted him to be." I'm sure that is a recipe of happiness. Of course, while we're still here in this fallen planet we will always face troubles and pain, but in a relationship with God, He can grant anyone who asks Him for peace and assurance! So let us be satisfied with what God has given us today. By the repetition of this we will certainly be successful.
In Hebrew, the name Abram means exalted father and Abraham means father of a multitude. Both names represent what was possible for Abraham to become because of his faith. Both names reflect the changes that we to can go through in our Faith.
My name is Nelson, and like Abraham, I too will have a new name (Revelation 2:17)