How Far Do YOU See?

Several years ago on a Thanksgiving Monday evening I was on a flight over Lake Erie en route to Tulsa Oklahoma - via a connecting flight in a city in northern Texas.

SGA leaders had prayed for a way of serving and helping national churches to be more strategic and fruitful like the Church in Antioch -

Met, prayed, studied the Word of God

Asked the Lord and each - Was there something more that we could or should do?

Tulsa Bible Church

Antioch Initiative

As we ask ourselves and each other, “How Far Do YOU See?” through the Word of God, let’s walk alongside of Abraham and step by step, begin to see who far God sees and wants us to see.

Genesis 12:1–4 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Gen

Looking back if the centuries and the generations, the writer of the Book of Hebrews would remind us that like those who preceded him and lived after him, what Abraham did, he did by faith.

Hebrews 11:8–11 ESV

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Hebrews 11:8–10 ESV

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Heb 11:

Heb 11:

For Abraham and each of those listed in , faith was not only about believing but also about doing. Later, the Apostle James explained it succinctly this way,

James 2:17 ESV

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James

Returning to where we began in , let’s continue to ask ourselves, “How far do you see?”

Asking ourselves that question, with our Lord’s help, let’s continue to ask that question until step by step of faith, we see as far as God wants each of us to see.

As a beginning we do well to note two words at the beginning of

LORD - Yahweh - not nanna - moon god

A reference later in Genesis makes it very clear that Abram understood who Yahweh was.

Genesis 14:22 ESV

But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,

Gen

said - had said - KJV, NKJV & NIV.

It is understandable for us to why some translators translators translated the Hebrew in the past (said and others in the past perfect (had said). OT Hebrew does dovetail that exactly with English.

Past Perfect in English - had - action in the past that is not resumed - God said - communicated to Abram and did not repeat that communication

Perfect - God communicated in the past one or more times.

The bottom line would be with the portions that I will refer to later like in , when Stephen testified that God appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia and delivered the same message that we read here in , it would clearly indicate that God spoke to Abram in both Mesopotamia and Haran. If we feel that God revealed Himself and spoke to Abram on more than occasion, then the past inferring “said” and “said”again is probably more accurate. On the other hand, if we believe that God appeared and spoke (had spoke) to Abram once and want to stress that , then “had said” makes more sense. Because the Genesis context seems refers back to time in Haran, rather than pre Haran - Mesopotamia - I would lean toward “said" Another reason would be in the wider context of God’s Word, God repeatedly taught His children, His people the same truths again and again - trust me - Abram, Moses, Joshua; obey - 10 commandments - and 34. Christ went over some of the same truths many times - must die, would die and rise again. Because they were slow to understand, he taught them and spoke to them more than once.

Abram was no better and neither are we.

NIV. Hebrew “amar”. This was used of in , , , , , , & 26 - “And God said.

Hebrew “amar”. This was used of in , , , , , , & 26 - “And God said.

& 6 - It was used of both people and talking to each of other and God speaking directly to a person.

Tends to verbal communication or a reference to past verbal communication that has been committed to memory or written record. KJV translators used more than 30 words when translating “amar”

answer - 98 X

command - 29X

speak - 168X

With Abraham, one of the first truths that and we see is that,

When we see as far as God sees, we will see that His promises and blessings are to be shared.

IN YOU ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED

What God was calling Abraham to do was not only about Sarah and him.

It was about a land that he had not seen yet.

It was about a family and people that had not been promised or born as yet.

It was about a family and land yet to be named

It was about steps of faith that would become clearer with each step of faith.

It was about faith trusting God not only for Himself but also for others who would be blessed because he stepped out in faith and believed.

The steps of faith that we take or do not take impact others. While faith and a personal relationship with Christ, our personal faith impacts others.

Our steps of faith are not taken in a vacuum. For Abram and each of us our steps of faith have a family, a faith, a historical and a geographic context.

Hebrews 11 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11

provides a bit of context of Abraham’s call and seeing as far as God wanted him to see.

Father Terah and Abram’s siblings Nahor and Haran - 11:26

Haran was also a place at the north arch of the fertile crescent - 11:32

God called Abraham from serving other gods

Joshua 24:2 ESV

And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

God called called Abraham when Abraham was in Mesopotamia - where Ur of the Chaldeas was located.

Our steps of faith of faith are seldom one big step but rather a series of smaller steps in the same direction.

Acts 7:2–3 ESV

And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’

Acts 7:

Ur and Haran were centers of moon worship - archeological and history records affirm cathat.

Nanna was the name of the moon god - large ziggurat in Ur dedicated to Nanna

Saw cylces of the moon as symbols of stage of life - birth, growth, decay and death.

from your land and from your kindred

While God called Abram, Genesis 12:31 indicates that Terah initiated and led the move to Canaan via Haran. We are not told why they settled in Haran for while. Perhaps it was Terah’s health, Perhaps it was Haran’s health.

Terah died in Haran - Gen 12:31

Haran had died in Ur - Gen 12:27

In reading the Word of God, we must remember the cultural and ethical setting of the time. In that day and for most of recorded history, respect and care for ones parents and extended family was expected, required - a non negotiable. To leave vulnerable family members without protection and care was unacceptable

. With Haran having died in Ur, and Abram’s brother Nahor and his wife only only been mentioned, care for the family rested on the shoulders of Abram.

With the death of Terah, God affirmed to Abram that the next steps of faith that he needed to take

Step 1 - - Mesopotamia before Haran

Step 2 - - Haran to Canaan

Before we move on we probably need to remind each other that within the Body of Christ, their many who for reasons that they cannot always publicly cannot take the next or every step of faith that they feel God is calling them to.

Unsaved or spiritually cool spouse

Rebellious children

Opressive family situation

Health

Economics

With God’s CALL for next step faith for Abram - many facets:

God called - spoke to - Abram

One commentator (Derek Kidner) noted:

“The history of redemption like that of creation begins with God speaking; this in a nutshell differentiated Abram’s story from his father’s. The call to forsake all and follow finds it parallel in the Gospels(which in some ways are nearer the patriarchal pattern than the law - cf ), and Abram’s early history is partly his gradual entanglement

From your country - place of birth and ethic origin, from your kindred - extended family, relatives, offspring - family connections , from your father’s house - umbrella identity and security. As yet, Abraham and Sarah had not children. Other than family and servants, who would care for them in a new land or when they died? YAHWEH

What we have come to refer to as the Abrahamic covenant unfolds this way:

to a land that I WILL show you

From this portion and other references like what would was not so much about God/Yahweh blessing what Abram did but rather Yahweh stepping and working. That is what faith is about - by faith obeyed and allowing God to work in and through us.

I will show you - - God removed Abram from Haran to this land in which you are now living.

I will make you a great nation.

Great - to grow up, to become strong, great/wealthy, important

Latin translation - magnum

Greek translation - mega

Nation - not a country in the sense of geography but people, persons, nation - corporate body

Genesis 17:6 ESV

I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

I will bless you - be blessed - what was tangible

I will make your name great - famous

You will be a blessing

God - Yahweh would do this. Granted there needed to be faith and obedience but the blessing was not because of the obedience but God.

Acts 3:25 ESV

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

Galatians 3:8 ESV

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

I will bless those who bless you and him who dishonours you I will curse and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.

We all know all families of the earth cannot become in Abram, that is an ethnic sense. The reason for this is that the the blessing spoken of here is not only about things, numbers and relationships, it is about the Gospel before the Word of God spoke of the Gospel as we know as we know it.

Paul explained that to the Galatians.

Galatians 3:8 ESV

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

Think about that if you will. God/Yahweh preached the Gospel to Abraham. That Gospel was about justification, faith, forgiveness and sin.

The Gospel - good news. The Word of God picks up and emphasizes that precious truth again and again. By faith Abram understood the context of great and blessed. That it was what God would do and was t received by faith.

Genesis 18:18 ESV

seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Genesis 22:18 ESV

and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Jn

John 8:56 ESV

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

Acts 26:22–23 ESV

To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

,

So Abram went from Haran to Canaan as the LORD/Yahweh told and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old. And Abram took Sarai his wife but no other immediate family - possessions and people but no immediate family.

In the remaining verses of this chapter we have the first three instances of how we translate into life beginning to see as as far as God sees and living in a way that embodies that God’s promises are given to us to be shared.

Shechem - a place of decision - vs 6, 7

Passed through the land to the place at Shechem - a pass between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim - the crossroads of central Palestine

Then, there the LORD/Yahweh appeared to Abram said, “To your offspring will I give this land.” - not to you but to your offspring.

Abram had a decision to make. Would he believe that the LORD would/could bless him, could give this land to his offspring?

Abram and built an altar to the LORD who had appeared to him.

“By this act, Abram:

made an open confession his religion

established worship of the true God

declared his faith in God’s promise.

For us and those who follow us/our offspring life lived by faith means choosing.

Here the Israelites would assembled to choose between blessing and cursing.

Deuteronomy 11:29–30 ESV

And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the road, toward the going down of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oak of Moreh?

Here Joshua would give his last charge.

Joshua 24:15 ESV

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

And sadly, very sadly here one day the kingdom of Solomon would break in two. It was at Shechem that Jeroboam built for the north what he saw and capital that would encourage people not to go down to Jerusalem and Rehoboam.. Jeroboam also built up Penuel for the same purpose.

Made 2 golden calves - Bethel & Dan

Made temples in the high places and appointed priests that were not Levites.