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Genesis 13b:

Hello all,

My apologies for missing last week’s instalment of Abram’s life.  I couldn’t get on the Net!!  However, by now Abram had fulfilled God’s request to leave his country, his father’s influence, and his relations.  But he had not done this knowingly, nor wisely!  And there’s the rub!  Because of this, he was slow to act out his Christian position.  Yet the LORD blessed him and taught him, for that is His desire.

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Genesis 13:

14 And the LORD said to Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, “Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 for all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever [as part of the new world].  16 And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered. 

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you.”

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After the separation from Lot, Abram again received from the LORD a promise of the whole country.  Although he knew it to mean the new world, he also saw it as having a meaning (through the power of the gospel) in this world too. 

Not just a physical control, but a spiritual one.

But because he had no son, he at first thought that his trusty servant and brother in the faith, Eliezer, should become his son by adoption, and his heir.  But God informed Abraham that his servant should not be his son and heir, but that he should really have a son.  “And He brought him forth abroad, and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if you be able to number them:’ and He said to him, ‘So shall your seed be.’ And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.”  Genesis 15:5-6.

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Genesis 13:

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre [the Amorite], which is in Hebron, and built there an altar to the LORD.

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Soon after this he moved to Hebron and according to his custom, invited the LORD to share his home with him, for the Son of God requires constant invitation lest He be a burden.  In the free air of those upland plains, with their olive groves and vineyards, their fields of waving grain, and the wide pasture grounds of the encircling hills, he dwelt, well content with his simple, patriarchal country life, and leaving to Lot and his family the perilous luxury of the valley of Sodom. 

The Son of God called Abram to be a teacher of His word.  He chose him to be the father of a great “nation”, because He saw that Abram would instruct his children and his household in the principles of the law.  And that which gave power to Abram's teaching was the influence of his own life.  His great household consisted of more than a thousand souls, many of them heads of families, and many newly converted from heathenism.  Such a household required a firm hand at the helm.  No weak, vacillating methods would suffice.  Of Abram God said, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him.” Genesis 18:19.  Yet his authority was exercised with such wisdom and tenderness that hearts were won and not repulsed. 

The testimony of the divine Watcher is, “They shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Genesis 18:19.  And Abram's influence extended beyond his own household.  Wherever he pitched his tent, he set up beside it the altar for sacrifice and worship.  When the tent was removed, the altar remained; and many a roving Canaanite, whose knowledge of God had been gained from the life of Abram His servant, tarried at that altar to offer sacrifice to Almighty God. 

During this time, Abram was honoured by the surrounding nations as a mighty prince and a wise and able chief, for he did not shut away his influence from his neighbours.  In accordance with God’s promise, he went about to “subdue the people” and claim them for his LORD.  Psalm 47:1-4.  Living among worldly and idolatrous neighbours his life and character, so unselfish yet modest, was in marked contrast with those of the worshippers of idols, and exerted a great influence in favour of the true faith.  His allegiance to God was unswerving, while his thoughtfulness and Christian love inspired confidence and friendship and his unaffected greatness commanded respect and honour.  He was “the head and not the tail”.  Deuteronomy 28:12-14.

His religion was not held as a precious treasure to be jealously guarded and enjoyed solely by its possessor, for true religion cannot be held this way.  Such a spirit is contrary to the principles of the gospel.  While Christ is dwelling in the heart it is impossible to conceal the light of His presence, or for that light to grow dim.  Matthew 5:14-16.  In fact, it will grow brighter and brighter as day by day the mists of selfishness and sin that envelop the Christian so easily are dispelled by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.  Malachi 4:2.

The people of God are His representatives upon the earth, and He intends that they shall be lights in the moral darkness of this world.  Scattered all over the country, in the towns, cities, and villages, they are His witnesses, the channels through which He will communicate to an unbelieving world the knowledge of His will and the wonders of His grace. 

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Isaiah 43:

10  “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “and My servants whom I have chosen: that you [and they] may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.  Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me.

11 “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no Saviour. 12  I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed [this], WHEN THERE WAS NO STRANGE GOD AMONG YOU. 

Therefore you are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “that I am God.”

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It is His plan that all who are partakers of the great gift of salvation shall be missionaries for Him wherever they live.  Luke 3:1-14.  The behaviour of the Christian constitutes the standard by which worldlings judge the gospel.  Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, meekness, kindness, mercy, and love, habitually exhibited, are the lights that shine forth in the character before the world, revealing THE CONTRAST with the darkness that comes of the selfishness of the natural heart. 

In this way, and IN NO OTHER, Christ conquers.

Rich in faith, noble in generosity, unfaltering in obedience, and humble in the simplicity of his pilgrim life, Abram was also wise in diplomacy and brave and skilful in war as the record will show.  Despite the fact that he was known as the teacher of a new religion, three royal brothers, rulers of the Amorite plains in which he dwelt, showed their friendship by inviting him to enter into an alliance with them FOR GREATER SECURITY; for the country was filled with violence and oppression.  “He dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.” Genesis 14:13. 

An occasion soon arose for him to avail himself of this alliance and therein lies another tale.

Be with me next week?

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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Matthew 5:

14 You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel [basket], but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Back

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Malachi 4:

2 “To you that fear [respect] My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall [well protected]. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this,” says the LORD of hosts.  Back

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Luke 3:

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the LORD, make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, “O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father:’ for I say to you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

10 And the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answers and says to them, “He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.”

12 Then came also publicans [tax gatherers] to be baptized, and said to him, “Master, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.” 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do violence to no  [civilian] man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages [don’t take bribes].” 

Mark 5:

18 And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but says to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the LORD has done for you, and has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.  Back

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