Abram: An Old Testament Disciple

Introduction

Genesis is chalk full of history as it contains over a thousand years worth of the history of mankind, nations, and God’s work in history. From the creation, to the fall, to the extreme sin of Noah’s time, we can see the great work of God through it all.

After the flood, God blessed Noah and his family so that they repopulated the earth. From Shem’s lineage arose Abram. This is important because Shem comes from the lineage of Seth, Adam’s son. God keeps His promises as He establishes His works through history.

In this account, we are seeing the beginning of God sanctifying a people to Himself - the beginning of the nation of Israel. In this account, Abram serves as the bridge that connects the primeval history of mankind to the patriarchal history of man. Through this account, we are given a prime example of what a disciple is and does through and by the grace of God. How does the account of Abram show us how we can be disciples?

God’s Call To Abram

In Genesis 12:1, God speaks to Abram and issues an invitation to do something greater than he could have ever imagined. With this invitation came a challenge. Although Abram was called by God, he was challenged to live three things: (1) his homeland, (2) his household, and (3) his heritage.

His Homeland

When God called Abram, the first recorded invitation states for him to “get thee out of thy ‘country.’” This can be described as everything he was familiar with. Abram’s homeland consisted of familiar cultures, lifestyles, and mannerisms. God was calling him to come out and be different in a different place.

His Household

The second challenge came as God mentioned to, not only leave out of his country, but to get out of thy “father’s house.” In Ur, Abram had his family, those who he was most comfortable with, and those who he loved most. God calls for us to love HIM more than these. Jesus told his followers in Matthew 10:34-38, 34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

Abram was not called follow his family, he was called to follow God. This is a challenge that many have today. God doesn’t say to NOT love your family; instead, He asks us to love Him MORE because He gave us our families and not we ourselves.

His Heritage

Everything that Abram would have been left, concerning his inheritance, would have been found in Ur. His family, his homeland, his livelihood was found in Ur. God’s call on his life challenged him to leave those things behind and TRUST in Him.

The amazing thing about God is that, although we are unworthy, He loves us anyways. God’s call challenged Abram in ways that he probably never thought imaginable, but God did not stop there. With God’s call came a promise or Covenant.

God’s Covenant With Abram

In Genesis 12:2-3, God provides promises to Abram that followed His call. God is a GOOD God. He will not bring you out of something without giving you something better. It may not appear better in our eyes at the moment, but in the long-run, God does what is best so that He will receive glory and honor.

Promise to Build a Great Nation

In Genesis 12:2, God told Abram that He would “make of thee a great nation.” Although Abram could not see hundreds, or even thousands, of years into the future, God knew what would come of this promise. Abram trusted Him, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Galatians 3:6)

In this account in the Book of Genesis, we see the nation of Israel coming into being through Abram. This nation is still blessed today; however, physical Israel is not the only fulfillment of this covenant. Through Jesus Christ, God provided a New Covenant in which all who believe on Him can be saved and are made sons of God, just as Israel was in the Old Testament. Galatians 3:7 says, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” ALL those who trust in Christ are made into a SPIRITUAL ISRAEL - the CHURCH.

Promise to Bless Him and His “Seed”

God not only promised to make a great nation of out Abram, but He also promised to bless him. The term “bless” means to invoke divine blessing, or goodness, upon somebody. Studying the life of Abram can show how good God was to Him. Examining our life, we can see how good God is to us as well, as we are of the seed of Abram. What more should we desire more than God’s GRACE and His GOODNESS?

Galatians 3:8-9 says, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.“ This promise is still being fulfilled today, in 2020, as those who trust in the Lord are blessed beyond measure.

Promise to Bind Others That Are Against Him

God knew that in the process of time there would rise others who would desire harm and hurt against His sanctified people. In his promise to make a great nation and provide blessing to Abram and his seed, God also promised to take care of them, protect them, and stand against those who would desire their harm or hurt.

From the accounts throughout the Old Testament, we can determine how that God has blessed and cursed those who supported and fought against Israel. This promise still reigns true today, not just for “physical” Israel, but for those who are supportive of the CHURCH - “spiritual” Israel. God has always provided blessings for His people, and has also provided protection and “cursing” to those who seek ill against them. All these were promises to Abram. Next, let’s examine how Abram responded.

Abram’s Change

In Genesis 12:4, we’re told that Abram simply “departed as the Lord had spoken unto him.” WHAT FAITH! Abram took God at His word and simply “departed.” This is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, example of discipleship in the Old Testament. What does it mean to be a disciple? I have three definitions: theological, practical, and simple.

My theological definition of a disciple is someone who has abandoned themselves to gain Jesus, assimilates to the doctrines of the Savior, and allocates his/her knowledge and resources to reach, bless, and minister to other people.

My practical definition of a disciple is one who answers the call to salvation, sanctification, and to sow the seed.

My simple definition of a disciple is one who is a follower, a friend, and a fisher of men.

How does Abram’s change make him a disciple? If you look at Genesis 12:4-5, you will find that Abram didn’t go alone. Abram took his family with him! There were those around him, that didn’t receive the call to go, yet they went too because Abram was obedient.

This is applicable to us today because husbands ought to lead their family in worship, work, and witnessing for Jesus Christ. We are called to be disciples, just as Abram was, to go into a better land and follow after God.

Illustration

In history, when Spanish nations would invade a country, they would invade them with 5 columns of soldiers. As the Spanish armies would come up to the entrance of the city, they would arrive in four columns of soldiers. At first glance, the cities could easily have taken care of these four columns of soldiers; however, what these cities and countries didn’t see was the fifth columnists.

Fifth columnists were people who had come into the country/city a year or so prior, became doctors, lawyers, and politicians. When the time of war came, they rose up in their roles as saboteurs - they fought from the inside out for their country. This is how the Spanish army was able to overthrow many countries.

As God’s children, we may live in this world, but we are not citizens of it. God has placed us in a place where we are to share His word with a lost and dying people. The only hope that this world has is in Christ, and God has called us out of our own comforts, desires, and relationships to come into a place where He is our “number one.”

Conclusion

After examining this account of the Scripture, a clear example of the call, the cost, and the commendation of being a disciple can be found. Through this example, may we, as the Church - the body of Christ, learn a deep and meaningful lesson concerning discipleship in order to become greater disciples for Him.

Galatians 3:6–9 KJV 1900

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.