His name had been Abram, meaning “exalted father.” Later it
would be changed to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.”
Verse 1 – God instructs Abram to leave his homeland and go
to a place unnamed. This is the way it is with God. He calls and we go. Not to
go when God calls is like a slap in His face. His call to Christ is much the
same: God calls, we respond. If we respond obediently, the reward is even
greater than Abram’s.
Verse 2-3 – God makes a promise to Abram. He will bless him.
Blessing is a much misused term today. We think of God’s blessings as material.
The more He gives us the more we feel “blessed.”
If you look the word up in a Bible dictionary you will see
it defined as “happy.” But the word “happy” did not mean the kind of giddy, or gratified
feelings we get when things are going our way. Contextually, in the Bible, “happy”
means deeply spiritually satisfied.
The Beatitudes can properly be read: Deeply
spiritually satisfied are the poor in spirit, etc.
That is why people going through unimaginable trials can
still be blessed. That is why Christians in lands where they are persecuted,
tortured and killed can be blessed. That is why people in “under developed”
countries can be blessed.
God’s blessing to Abram is chapter two of the story of God’s
redemptive work with mankind. Jesus is descended from Abram, as shown in
Matthew 1. Those who follow Him are a direct result and fulfillment of Abram’s
blessing.
Verses 4-5 – Abram did what God told Him to do. God has
called us to radically follow Christ. We must do so, even when we cannot see
where it will lead. By trusting God in Christ, we know that our destination is
eternity with Him in Heaven.
Verses 6-7 – Abram’s obedience to God would lead him and
ultimately Israel into some difficult earthly times. Abram went anyway.
God promised the land to Abram. God always keeps His
promise, no matter what world events might or might not take place.
Abram built an altar to God. An altar is a place of
sacrifice. It served to remind people of their gratitude to and dependence upon
God.
Verses 8-9 – Abram “pitched his tent” on a mountain and
built another altar. Then he continued on toward the Biblical region of Judah.
Christians have no need for an altar. The sacrifice of
Christ at the cross of Calvary is all of the sacrifice God needs for the
redemption of mankind. Those who follow God to the cross will find eternal
life.
Additional Thoughts
Additional Thoughts
God promises to show Abram a country. Abram did not see
the country, but he headed out by faith. We know he went by faith because faith
is the essence of things hoped for; the evidence of things UNSEEN. Following
God by faith means doing what He tells you, even when you don’t know where He
is leading.
Abram built an altar in Shechem. In the Old Testament, an
altar is a place where something dies as a sacrifice. Under the New Covenant,
an altar is a place where we die to self. We don’t need it for a sacrifice,
Jesus has provided the sacrifice…Himself. To follow Him, we must die to self.
Israel was chosen by God and was expected to be 1) A
witness of God’s ways; 2) a keeper of God’s word (Romans 3:2); 3) a channel for
God’s wonder (Messiah). God chose Israel because He’s the “captain of the
team,” and He gets to choose. He chose them to provide the path to Messiah,
Jesus. Those who bless Israel (and her mission) will be blessed. Those who
curse Israel (and thus reject Messiah) will be cursed. And that’s just the way
it is today and always will be.
God says unequivocally that He gave Canaan (the West
Bank) to the Jews. It’s their land, not the Palestinian’s land, or your land or
my land. It’s Israel’s land, and we would do well to respect that, even if we
don’t like it.
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