New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Encounters with God — The call of Abraham
Terah, the father of Abram, moved his family from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran on the way to Canaan. After his father died in Haran, “the Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Then God made this promise to Abram: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you” (vv.2-3).
Why did God choose Abram to be the recipient of this promise and blessing? There are several references in the Scriptures that provide some background for the answer. First of all, in Isaiah 41:8, Abraham is called by God “my friend.” (See also 2 Chronicles 20:7.) How did Abraham become God’s friend? He did so the way anyone becomes friends with someone else. They like each other, have things in common and spend time together. People like to drop the names of important people that they know and are on a friendly basis with. Can you imagine, though, having God say that you were his friend?!
Secondly, in that great chapter on the ancient heroes of the Bible, Hebrews 11, Abraham has more verses (twelve in all) than anyone else. I believe God selected Abram primarily because he had great faith. We know that he was not a perfect person. He did not always tell all of the truth. (See Genesis 12:10-20.) But no one can dispute he had incredible faith. For example, he was willing to do what God asked of him, even sacrificing his son, because he believed that God would raise him from the dead! (See Hebrews 11:1719,). Now that’s faith!
What do we learn about God in Abram’s call?
1) We see how God works from a plan. God began by calling Abram in order to create a people or nation. Those people needed a place to live so he gave them Canaan or what is otherwise known as “The Promised Land.” While the promise of land had conditions, the return of the Jews to the land in this
century is because the Sovereign God of the Universe has kept his word (see Genesis 12:7 & 15:7). Ultimately, God was making Abram a blessing in order to extend a blessing to his descendants; and through the Messiah, everyone. In order to do this, God developed and carried out his plan.
2) We observe the breadth of God’s grace. Jews and Gentiles are included in his plan to redeem lost mankind Salvation is available to all — not just the chosen few. “The Scriptures foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announce the gospel in advance to Abraham, ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:8-9).
3) God fulfilled His promise to Abraham, his people the Jews, and everyone. The original included a seven-fold blessing — and God has delivered on every one of the promises. Therefore, we can believe and accept the blessings he promises us through his word and trust that he will do for us as he has said. Others may say that they will do “so and so” and then forget or fail to do what they have said — but not God!