01-43 The Father of All Who Believe

Genesis 12:1-3

There has been a great deal of talk over the past couple of weeks, regarding the Chinese Balloon that crossed over the US and prominently over Billings, and then subsequently several objects that have been shot down over American airspace—the talk quickly shifts to the possibility of the existence of E.Ts.

You may have an opinion about Extra Terrestrials (certainly we’re familiar with spiritual beings that are supernatural)…but I’m not going to comment any further on them. The playwright George Bernard Shaw once quipped:

“If the other planets are inhabited then they must be using the earth for their insane asylum.”

Under the curse, the world is a mess and it is not getting any better. But it is also not chaos—b/c God is working to accomplish His good purpose (Is 46:10). And we see that purpose unfolding in the book of Genesis long ago and in particular the life of one man who is a central figure in the story of God’s good purpose—Abram (Abraham).

Next to LJC—Abram (the case can be made) is the most important individual in Scripture. Eleven chapters of Genesis are devoted to the first 2000 years of the history of the world and humanity. The next 14 chapters will detail the life of just 1 man: Abram and the calling and blessing of God upon him.

Now, there are great men in the Bible: Moses (the Lawgiver and greatest prophet in Israel—next to LJC); Joshua (led Israel in the conquests); David (the mighty king); Elijah and Daniel—these were all great men who had significant parts in the unfolding of God’s purpose toward Israel. There are similar people in the NT: Peter, Paul, John (between these 3 the bulk of the NT is written.

But Abram stands out from them all. For He is a man of faith and the exemplar of faith that justifies. In Romans 4, Paul uses Abraham as proof that justification can never be the result of works but faith alone.

Romans 4:3 NASB95

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Paul is very careful to show that Abraham was justified before the Law was given thru Moses (another 500-600 years later) and even before he received the sign of circumcision—so that justification is never a result of works. Paul says b/c of his faith, Abraham has become “the father of all who believe” (Rom 4:11)—Jews & Gentiles. And in Galatians:

Galatians 3:7 NASB95

7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

Galatians 3:9 NASB95

9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

The OT (God’s covenant with His chosen people—Israel) cannot be understood without Abram (whose name is changed to Abraham in Gen 17:5). Abram meant “exalted father” while Abraham means father of a multitude. That name change was significant for 2 reasons: 1) Abraham would physically become the father of the Jews thru his promised son Isaac; 2) Abraham would become the spiritual father of everyone who has faith—every believer of every age who follows in the footsteps of faith that justifies.

On 3 occasions Abram is called “God’s friend”

2 Chronicles 20:7 NASB95

7 “Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?

Isaiah 41:8 NASB95

8 “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,

James 2:23 NASB95

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.

Obedience is what makes a person God’s friend (Jn 15:14-15).

Gen 12 begins to unfold the life of Abram and details the beginning of God’s purpose and intent to call and bless him from among all the other people that were living. There are 2 parts (divisions) in vv 1-9— (1) God speaks to Abram (1-3); (2) Abram Responds to God (4-9). Today we’ll look at part 1:

I. God Speaks to Abram

A. The Call

First, take note of God’s call to Abram: it is in the form of an imperative in vs 1 “Go forth...” and it is emphatic-lit “Abram...go yourself...”

Now, this takes some time to develop but God is calling Abram to enter a saving relationship with the one true God—the Creator God—YHWH (LORD). This is what God does. He calls sinners to Himself. If you’re here today as a believer—God called you.

Salvation comes to people b/c He graciously calls sinners to respond by faith (believing Him).

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 NASB95

13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God called Abram (descendant of Shem) in a time and place that would have been most hindering to anyone. Abram was living in Ur—a very spiritually dark place…where idolatry was the religion of Abram’s family (parents, g-parents). Ur was a city devoted to the worship of the moon-god named Sin. They were polytheistic in that they worshiped multiple gods (this included Abram’s family—Josh 24:2). He did not know the one true God and yet God graciously called him to Himself.

We know that Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran (after his father died). He was married to Sarai (half-sister 20:12) and we know that when they left Haran they were without children (10:30). There could have been many hindrances to Abram believing God but there are no hindrances too great for God to call anyone to saving faith.

Your upbringing (may have been in a Xn home or a non-Xn/pagan home) this is no obstacle to God. Your age (young or old) is not a hindrance to God saving you—for we know many come to faith later in life. Life circumstances do not hinder the work and call of God to bring sinners to repentance (Abram & Sarai had no children).

Salvation comes to people b/c He graciously calls sinners to respond by faith (believing Him—taking Him at His word).

The command of God to Abram requires complete devotion and allegiance to God alone and would require a personal sacrifice that many find it difficult to embrace. For God was commanding Abram to sever every relationship that stood in the way of this complete devotion.

Leave Your Country

This would be the widest relationship (lit “from your land”) referring to the specific places people inhabited after Babel. Granted, this would have required the least personal sacrifice but still, God wanted Abram to leave the area he grew up in and had known so well.

Leave Your Relatives

Getting a little closer to home (so to speak), this increases the level of sacrifice required of Abram. This would include the extensive family ties that one would draw help from—support and encouragement.

Leave Your Father’s House

Most costly was God’s call to leave the house of his father Terah. This is the smallest unit b/t the 3 and it was most intimate. The father’s household included his wife(s), unmarried daughters, his sons and their dependents, as well as any other members likes slaves and laborers.

Abram was being directed to cut this strongest family bond by leaving the domain of his father—there was security and prosperity here. God was commanding nothing short of complete devotion and dependency on God alone. The Lord didn’t even tell him where he was to go but said “to the land I will show you.” There was uncertainty that surrounded the command of God which makes Abram’s faith even more amazing b/c the only thing Abram had was God’s Word.

Willingness to abandon everything, to cut ties with every relationship is the call of the gospel.

Matt 10:34-38;

Luke 9:23–24 NASB95

23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

Luke 9:57-61;

Kent Hughes:

Genesis—Beginning and Blessing Abram’s Call and Promise (vv. 1–3)

When Jesus calls us, he does not guarantee the future or even tell us what it will be like. He does promise that he will take us to be with him—which is the ultimate land! He does promise forgiveness and inner peace. He does promise that he will be with us through thick and thin. He does promise our ultimate good. But Jesus does not say that it will be smooth here on earth. He does not say that your problems will be solved. Nor does he promise a life of peace and ease. If you are looking for these kinds of up-front promises before turning to Christ, you will never get them.

The call of the gospel is to trust His word alone! This was God’s call to Abram.

B. The Promise

As with the gospel which promises life, forgiveness and salvation to those who believe, God’s call to Abram included His promises as well.

2 expressions are prominent in these vv:

Bless, blessing or blessed (5x)

“I will” (5x)—God’s promise affirms that everything is from Himself

There are numerous promises made (debating 5,6,7) in vv 2-3 that make up both personal blessings and global blessings.

Personal Blessings

The first promise by God was that of guidance/direction. The command to go forth was coupled with the promise that God would show Abram the land that he was to go to. The promise of giving this land to Abram to possess it is not part of this initial promise. The Land covenant comes a bit later (Gen 15:5-7).

Most significantly is the promise “I will make you a great nation.” Now, this is a shocking promise b/c Abram is 75 years old. His wife is 10 years younger (Gen 17:17). When the birth of Isaac is prophesied Moses comments:

Genesis 18:11 NASB95

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.

Even setting out from Haran at the age of 75, it was beyond all human probability that Abram would have a child with his wife who was “barren”—had no descendants. I say “beyond all human probability” because it is God alone who opens and closes the womb. Consider the following Scripture:

Genesis 20:18 NASB95

18 For the Lord had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 29:31 NASB95

31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

Genesis 30:22 NASB95

22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.

1 Samuel 1:5–6 NASB95

5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.

Genesis 15:3 NASB95

3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”

Genesis 16:2 NASB95

2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 17:16 NASB95

16 “I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

Genesis 21:1 NASB95

1 Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised.

While the Lord was not going to reveal how he would make Abram “a great nation,” this is part of the reason that makes Abram’s faith so noteworthy.

Paul would say

Romans 4:18 NASB95

18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

Beyond all that could be expected by natural principles, contrary to all human expectations…Abram believed. Just an observation at this point: Saving faith relies on God’s Word—specifically God’s promise. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once noted that saving faith is in the bare Word of God not in the church or in the traditions of the church.

God promised Abram that he would become a great nation—Abram took God at His word.

Another promise of God was to enrich Abram. Now this was not only material wealth but also included the physical blessing of a child and even the spiritual blessings of the presence of God. But here, this blessing was to materially enrich Abram.

Genesis 13:2 NASB95

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.

Genesis 24:35 (NASB95) Servant = Eliezer

35 “The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.

God had caused Abram to prosper and he had success in all that he set out to do. Abram had so much livestock (from Pharaoh—12:16) that it would become a source of contention b/t the herdsmen of Abram and Lot (13:6-7). God enriched Abram materially but also spiritually:

Genesis 21:22 NASB95

22 Now it came about at that time that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do;

How’s that for a blessing?

Another personal blessing was God’s promise “and make your name great...” In a general sense, this has certainly been true. When you think about all the, Jews, Xns, Muslims that have named their children “Abraham” it shows how his name has indeed become “great” (important, strong, magnified). The name Abraham sort of overshadows all other popular names—and it has been that way for 1000s of years. But the greatness is not in how many people are named after you…but the influence of this 1 man b/c of his faith/relationship to the Creator God. When it all boils down—this is really all you have. What is your relationship to the Creator? The 1st part of Genesis has shown the folly of trying to obtain wisdom, fame and influence thru ungodly means. Even a Babel—what were they trying to do? “Make a name for ourselves.” Abram’s influence (on the basis of his faith/believing God) has extended around the world.

God blessed him so that he would be a blessing to others. God’s dealing with Abram was not meant to be kept to himself. This would become the later error of the nation of Israel. God blesses you so that you would be a blessing to others. God saved you so that you would share the rich glories of the gospel of His grace with others.

Warren Wiersbe writes: “The missionary mandate of the church does not begin with John 3:16 or Matthew 28:18–20. It begins with God’s covenant with Abraham. We are blessed that we might be a blessing.”

Global Blessings

Because they are the people of God, believers like Abram and the nation of Israel (and the church for that matter) have really not been without enemies. There are those who are “friends” and would offer their “blessing” to which God Himself promises to bless. There are also those who “curse.” This term means to be small. There are many enemies of God’s people who treat us lightly, to disdain, to hold as worthless, to dishonor or disgrace. To treat God’s people with such contempt brings a more serious divine consequence of His judgment. God says “I will curse him.” This is a different word than the previous “curse.” Anyone who dares to treat with contempt, dishonor, to ridicule (including verbal assault) will receive the greater weight of God’s curse.

Now, does history bear the reality of this blessing & cursing promise?

God destroyed the armies of Pharaoh in the Red Sea for enslaving and mistreating His people (Ex14:28; 15:4-5, 19)

The midwives who were friendly to the Hebrews—God “was good” and gave them families (Ex 1:20)

When Jews invaded Canaan Rahab and her family were preserved b/c she befriended the spies (Josh 6:25)

Jericho was destroyed—all cities but Gibeonites (they managed to make a covenant with God) were destroyed

When the Gks overtook Palestine and desecrated the altar in the Temple they were conquered by Rome

Rome killed Paul (and others) and destroyed Jersualem and the temple and it didn’t survive

History bears the accounts of those who mistreat God’s people—they are brought under (lit “bind under a curse) the divine curse (Spain, Poland, Hitler’s Germany) I would just pose the question—what would/should become of our nation?

God promises global blessings to Abram and it concludes with this: “that all families of the earth will be blessed.” the rest of Scripture will begin the long, systematic unfolding of how the families of the earth will indeed be blessed as the story of redemption is fulfilled in Abram’s ultimate seed—the Messiah, JC.

Galatians 3:8–9 NASB95

8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Abram is the father of all who believe—being a believer himself. It is his faith that serves an example of what justifies a person before God.

Eliphaz asked an important question:

Job 4:17 NASB95

17 ‘Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?

Job adds his own question

Job 9:2 NASB95

2 “In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?

It is not by works. This has been the system of works-righteousness that is part of every cult, false religion that has been propagated by Satan and his demons.

Romans 3:20 NASB95

20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Galatians 2:16 NASB95

16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Abram is our example of faith that justifies.

Hebrews 11:8 NASB95

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

We’ll see his response next time.

Your Response: 2-words

Hear (the Word of the Lord)—your works will never commend you before the all righteous God

Believe—follow in the footsteps of our father Abraham—believe on the LJC