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Genesis 12e

Tests of character

Let’s look at Abraham’s life while he was still called “Abram”.

Besides Sarai and his father, out of his extended family only his nephew Lot had chosen to share the patriarch's pilgrim life and move to Haran.  With his idolatry Lot had united the worship of the true God and was partially obedient, like Noah’s sons.

However, Abram’s brother Nahor with his household clung to his home and idols, and remained in Mesopotamia (aka Babylon), the home of politics and worldly religion.

Now it was time to move on again:

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Genesis 12:

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

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From his father's grave the divine Voice bade Abram go forward.  So he took with him “their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran”, for he was not coming back to Haran, the half-way house.  He didn’t consider that he was 75 years old.   Genesis 12:4-5.  Among these followers were many led by higher considerations than those of service and self-interest.  During their stay in Haran, both Abram and Sarai had led others to the worship and service of the true God.  These attached themselves to the patriarch's household, and accompanied him to the land of promise.  “And they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

But to the worshipper of God, a heavy shadow rested upon wooded hill and fruitful plain.  “The Canaanite was then in the land.” Verse 6. Abram had reached the goal of his hopes to find a country occupied by an alien race and teeming with idolatry.  In the groves were set up the altars of many false gods, and human sacrifices were offered upon the neighbouring heights. While he clung to the divine promise, it was not without distress that he pitched his tent and built his altars. 

Then “the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, ‘To your Seed will I give this land’.”  Genesis 12:7.  His faith was strengthened by this assurance that the divine presence was with him, that he was not left to the mercy of the wicked.  “And there he built an altar to the LORD, who appeared to him.”  Unlike many after him, Abram understood what the LORD meant when He said, “this land”, for he looked for a renewed world, not this evil one.

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Romans 4:

13  For the promise, that he should be THE HEIR OF THE [new] WORLD [with Christ], was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through [the works of] the law, but through the righteousness of faith [it was a gift]. 14 For if they which are of the law [Christians] be heirs [by any self-righteous works], faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect.

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Abram believed that he, as well as all the other faithful ones, would inherit the new world, which is why he was content never to own any piece of this world except the cave in which he buried his wife many years later, and that place he purchased.  (Genesis 23:1-18).

But that was much later in his life.  In the meantime, still a wanderer, he soon moved to a spot near Bethel, and again erected an altar, and called upon the name of the LORD.  Abraham set us a worthy example. His was a life of prayer even while he was still Abram.  Wherever he pitched his tent, close beside it was set up his altar, calling all within his encampment to the morning and evening sacrifice as a reminder of his LORD’s death and promise.

Abram continued to journey southward, and now his faith was tested by Satan.  See Job 1:9-12.  The heavens withheld their rain, the rivers ceased to flow in the valleys, and the grass withered on the plains.  The flocks and herds couldn’t find any pasture, and starvation threatened the whole encampment. 

Did the patriarch now question the leadings of Providence?  Did he blame God as Job had at first? Did he look back with longing to the plenty of the Chaldean plains? All who were with him were eagerly watching to see what he would do, as trouble after trouble came upon him.  So long as his confidence appeared unshaken, they felt that there was hope; they were assured that God was his Friend, and that He was still guiding him.  Now was the time for him to speak like the patriarch Job.

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Job 13:

15   Though he [Satan] slay me, yet will I trust in Him [Jesus] . . .

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Abram could not explain “the leadings of Providence” as these type of experiences are called, for he was not yet “the friend of God”. John 15:14-15.  (The Son of God is our Friend from the beginning, but we are not always His). 

Abram had not received what he expected; but he held fast the promise, “I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” With earnest prayer he considered how to preserve the life of his people and his flocks, for he would not allow circumstances to shake his faith in God's word. 

But he did act to save himself, WHICH LED HIM INTO LIVING A LIE!

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Genesis 12:

10  And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to Sara his wife, “Behold now, I know that you are a fair woman to look upon [she was about 65 at the time and extremely beautiful]: 12 therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see you, that they shall say, ‘This is his wife’: and they will kill me, but they will save you alive. 13  Say, I pray you, you are my sister: that it may be well with me for your sake; and my soul shall live because of you.”

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This was partly true, because she was his half-sister (Genesis 20:11-13), but the very closeness of the lie to the truth made it just that much more damaging.  Only the faithfulness of his Friend saved him from disaster.

It was to escape the famine that he went down into Egypt (a picture of seeking help from the world).  He did not forsake Canaan entirely, or in his extremity turn back to the Chaldean land from which he came, where there was no scarcity of bread.  But he sought a temporary refuge as near as possible to the Land of Promise, intending shortly to return where God had placed him [but he did not rely on the LORD and stay at his place of duty.  In like circumstances Jesus fasted 40 days and nights.  Matthew 4:1-11.]

The LORD in His wisdom had to allow this course of action because He used the trial which came upon Abram to teach him lessons of submission, patience, and faith –  lessons that were to be placed on record for the benefit of all of us who should afterward be called to endure affliction.  Romans 5:1-4.  God leads us by a way that we often don’t understand, but we must believe that He never forgets or casts off those who put their trust in Him, for it is written:

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Hebrews 13:

5 Let your conversation [conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” 6 So that we [Christians] may boldly say, “The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man [or Satan] shall do to me.”

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Jesus had to permit affliction to come upon the patriarch Job because of his self-righteousness, but He did not forsake him.  He had to allow the beloved apostle John to be exiled to lonely Patmos, but He met him there, and his vision was filled with scenes of immortal glory as he wrote The Revelation.  The Son of God has to permit trials to come upon His people, that by their faithfulness and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, AND THAT THEIR EXAMPLE MAY BE A SOURCE OF STRENGTH TO OTHERS.  “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil.” Jeremiah 29:11. 

God has always supported His people in the furnace of affliction, MOST OF WHICH IS SELF-INFLICTED, the balance Satan-inspired.  Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 22:31. (It NEVER comes directly from Him, He just allows us freedom to get into trouble, and then He uses it.)  It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross (rubbish) is separated from the true gold of the Christian character.  Jesus carefully watches us as we go through each test: He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love.  It is by these close, testing trials that God disciplines us FOR OUR OWN GOOD.  When we consider the life of Jesus here on earth we should not be surprised at this.  Although He never responded to a temptation as we often do, His very righteousness caused many problems, for the wicked hate “goodie-goodies”.

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Hebrews 5:

8  Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered  . . .

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Jesus sees that some of us have abilities which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts us upon trial to improve them.  In His wisdom He allows us to get into positions that test our character and reveal to us defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from our own knowledge. Remember Peter?  See Luke 22:31-32.  Then He gives us opportunity to correct these defects and to fit ourselves for His service. 

He shows us our own weakness, and TEACHES US TO LEAN UPON HIM; for He is our only help and safeguard.  Thus His object is attained.  We are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfil the grand purpose for which our powers were given us.  Then, when He calls us to action, we are ready, and heavenly angels can unite with us in the work to be accomplished on the earth.

Are you ready?

Ron

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library.  No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.

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Abraham’s purchase:

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Genesis 23:

1 And Sarah was a hundred and twenty-seven years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 “I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 “Hear us, my lord: you are a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury your dead; none of us shall withhold from you his sepulchre, but that you may bury your dead.” 

7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. 8 And he communed with them, saying, “If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a burying place amongst you.”

10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 “Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I you, and the cave that is therein, I give it you; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it you: bury your dead.” 12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. 13 And he spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will give [sell] it, I pray you, hear me: I will give you money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.” 14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 “My lord, hearken to me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and you?  Bury therefore your dead.”

16 And Abraham hearkened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. 17 And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure 18 unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. 

19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.  Back

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Job 1:

9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Does Job fear God for nought?

10 Have not You made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side?  You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.”

12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself put not forth your hand.”  So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD [to do his work of evil and blame it on God!]

1 Corinthians 4:

9   “. . .  we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”  Back

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John 15:

14 [Jesus said]  “You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his LORD does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known to you.”  Back

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Genesis 20:

11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. 12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, “This is your kindness which you shall show to me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, ‘He is my brother’.”  Back

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Romans 5:

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ: 2 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works [develops] patience; 4 and patience, experience; and experience, hope. Back

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Malachi 3:

1 Behold, I will send My messenger [John the Baptist], and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the LORD, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, He shall come, says the LORD of hosts.

2 But who may abide the day of His coming?  And who shall stand when He appears?  For He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.   Back

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Luke 22:

31 And the LORD said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not [but it’s still your choice]: and when you are converted [on this point], strengthen your brethren [through your experience].”  Back

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Matthew 4:

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward  hungry.

3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’

5 Then the devil takes Him up into the holy city, and sets Him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 and says to Him, “If You be the Son of God, cast Yourself down: for it is written, ‘He shall give His angels charge concerning You: and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone’.” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt [presume on] the LORD your God’.”

8 Again, the devil takes Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 and says to Him, “All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then says Jesus to him, “Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve’.”

11 Then the devil leaves Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered to Him.  Back

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