Day 5 - Genesis 12-14

Abram's Call: From Nominal Nomad to Father of Faith

We reach a major division in the book of Genesis. Perhaps one of the most important accounts in the Old Testament is Abram’s transformation from a childless, idol worshiping (Jos 24:2) nomad into a man who ultimately learned to put his trust in the LORD. As we continue to read about Abram, we will come to realize that our journey through faith is much like his; as we attempt to encounter God, we teeter-totter between fear and pride and often make mistakes. However, God is always there calling us back to himself and leading the way to where he wants us to be. We learn from Abram how important repentance of sin and trusting in the LORD’s promises are. Much more could be said as an introduction, but I digress. (What would you all say that characterizes Abram's life/God's call to him?)

The question that often came to my mind when reading about Abram’s initial call was why did God call him in the first place? The more I study this passage, the more I realize that God called Abram, not because of any meritorious qualities within himself, but simply because God chose him. The Bible says that God uses the foolish and despised things in the world in order to shame the strong and thus reveal his almighty power (1 Cor 1:27, 28). Abram was not special by human standards; he was old, was married to his barren half-sister (which was a great source of shame in their Eastern culture, to be barren that is), had no male heir (which was like a death sentence in those days), and had no standing in the foreign country to which he traveled to. But despite what he was not, God was pleased to choose him for His world redemptive work. God opened Abram’s spiritual ears to hear his call. God gave Abram the promise and as said before, God gives people, including Abram, the faith to respond (Heb 12:2). God’s calling and election as heirs are initiated and completed by his one-sided grace. Abram couldn’t take any credit for what God had given to him freely as a gift. 

The promise:

 ¹ The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

 ² “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.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
   and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
   will be blessed through you.”
 

The main blessing that would come through the promise given to Abram is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, who make recipients of Himself (the Holy Spirit) spiritual children of God (Gal 3:14). I could say much more about Abram’s call and the promise, but I think it’s enough to simply meditate on the words spoken to him. Let me know your responses on this promise.

Egyptian Conniptions

potential altar of repentance

Abram seems to get off on the right foot with following God. He constructs altars of worship at two distinct locations and calls on the name of the LORD there (12:7, 8). He receives an additional promise that his offspring would be given the land of Canaan. But then as God’s sovereignty would have it, a severe famine strikes the land. So off to Egypt he goes to escape starvation. It’s easy to trivialize Abram’s situation, saying that his decision was not borne out of faith. But have you ever been through a famine? When faced with a tough decision like this, I’m sure we would most likely do the same thing Abram did. Nevertheless, perhaps this was a temptation he could have avoided had he called out to God for help. After all, the Bible says that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear and that he will give us the means to successfully endure it (1 Cor 10:13). Abram was on a bad road. What made it even worse was that he told his wife to lie in order to preserve his own life. This lie led Pharaoh to take Sara into his harem. Despite all of this, God mercifully rescued both Abram and Sara from this predicament. He punished Pharaoh for holding Sara, perhaps so that he may know that God’s special calling and thus his protection was upon him.

Abram is frail and fearful; instead of choosing to lay down his life for his wife, he compromises to save himself. Perhaps he justified himself thinking that he had to lie in order to live so that he could fulfill God’s promise. Whatever his reasoning was, he put his wife in harms way. But thank God, that God Himself is faithful. Despite Abram’s shortcomings, God rescues him and helps him to come to repentance (13:3, 4).  

Separation Anxiety

Abram comes to a crossroads at this juncture. He is forced to separate with Lot because both of them had acquired too many possessions. Lot ended up taking the route which looked pleasant and left Abram with the less-pleasant part of the land. What perhaps pained Abram the most was that he had to part with his nephew, whom he clearly loved. This could have been a low point for Abram. Perhaps the land the promises didn’t seem so important after he had lost what was tangible to him; maybe he felt like he was losing a significant part of what was meaningful to him. So at this point, God reassures Abram again, instructing him to travel throughout the land to which he would give his innumerable offspring.

A War Worth Waging

Is that you Abram?

An epic battle ensues. There are a lot of kings with a lot of weird names that I’m not even going to attempt to type out. What’s notable though is that Lot, Abram’s nephew is kidnapped in the foray. So with some kind of old-man juice (or shepherd-like heart) coursing through his veins, he sets off on a reconnaissance mission. Out of no where he rounds up his 300 or so trained men and actually ends up routing the kings who kidnapped Lot. Abram, to show his loyalty to God, refuses to make a treaty of sorts with the king of Sodom. Additionally, he has a run in with Melchizedek, a priest and king of Salem. He receives a blessing and affirmation of God's promise through this priest. I don’t fully understand this part of the scripture, but Hebrews 7 explains Melchizedek's connection with Jesus. It is a very peculiar section of scripture which I recommend reading.

What do you all think about Abram’s call, his visit to Egypt, encounter with Melchi and so forth?