Battle For The Truth (Part 51)

Genesis 12:4-9, “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (5) And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (6) And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. (7) And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. (8) And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (9) And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south."

Introduction

Last week, we witnessed God’s call of Abram. This call included promises and blessings.God promised to cause a great nation (people) to come through Abram; God promised to make Abram’s name great; God promised blessings upon Abram and those who blessed him, and curses upon those who cursed him; and finally, universal blessing upon those who believe in the promised seed of Abram. Theologically, this is called the Abrahamic Covenant.

The Abrahamic Covenant is the key covenant that includes Jews and Gentiles alike. Therefore, it is extremely important that we not only understand Abraham but Sarah as well. For it is the promise God made through he and Sarah that will shape the entire plan of redemption. For Abraham had many children, but the promise of the Abrahamic Covenant could only be fulfilled through Sarai, whom we learned in Genesis 11:30 was “barren; she had no child,” meaning she was unable to conceive and bear children.

This is the first time in Scripture where a woman is identified as being barren. Is it not ironic that the same God who commanded Adam and Eve, and the Shem, Ham, and Japheth be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth, would cause Sarai who is part of His promise to Abram to be barren? This lets us know that God is up to something special.

In circumstances like this where God’s word becomes crystal clear that He spoke to Isaiah in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Amen somebody.

V.4-6 – “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (5) And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (6) And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.”

Here we see the obedience of Abram. The text says, “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him...” This may not seem like much of a passage, yet it holds the key how anyone who will be saved must respond to God’s word. What is this key? Faith! Here in our narrative, we only observe what happened and not the significance of what happened. To gain this insight, we must turn to the didactic literature of the NT. In the Book of Galatians, Paul used Abraham to establish his point that a person is justified before God by faith and not by works.

In Galatians 3:6-14: “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (7) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) 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. (9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (12) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. (13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Amen somebody.

“The Canaanites were in the land,” but they were just renting space. Moses is laying the groundwork for what the children of Israel would encounter once they entered the Land of Canaan—there were people there.

Side Note: This is reminiscent of how Christopher Columbus “discovered” America. He discovered a land where people were already living. One of the differences being, he was off course. For he was in search of the West Indies and instead found America. Yet, despite people already being here, he claimed the land for Spain. Whereas Abram was not lost, for God directed him to the land of Canaan to claim his inheritance.

V.7-9 – “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. (8) And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (9) And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.”

“Unto thy seed will I give this land...” Here we find a theophany, where God appeared unto Abram. Although we are not told in what form God appeared unto Abram, we know from the text that He appeared. As we continue through the Genesis narrative, we will encounter other events where either God or angelic beings appeared to Abram. As a response to the appearance and the promise, Abram built an alter unto God. Here we see the first worship of the only True and Living God made in the land of Canaan. This area will become significant as the narrative unfolds. Shechem, Bethel, and Ai will play significant roles in the taking of Canaan and the worship of God.

Side Note: We ought not miss the significance of Abram and these events that are playing out before our eyes. One of the things to pay close attention to is the role that Sarai plays in the redemption account. I love the fact that even though she was barren, Abram stayed committed to Sarai. Abram’s faith in God sustained him his entire journey and it will sustain you and me as well. For this reason, Abraham is considered the father of the faithful. The Apostle Paul writes of his faith in Romans 4:1-25,

“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? (2) For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. (3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (6) Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (9) Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (10) How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. (11) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (12) And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: (15) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Conclusion

Finally, saints, I think it is worth repeating. Abram is they key patriarch in Scripture—particularly as it pertains to salvation of Gentiles. The working out of God’s promise dominates our news today. In our text informs us that Abram’s journey is not complete. In fact, it is just beginning. Abram has a “lot” on his hands (no pun intended.): Sarai, men and maidservants, Lot, and Lot’s family and servants, sheep and other beasts of burden, and supplies for the whole group. Not to mention, as a nomad, he has to travel through some dangerous areas where you just may get robbed or kidnapped, or both. Added to all of this, Abram is no spring chicken—he is at least 75-years old when he began this journey. I know they tended to live longer, but 75 is 75. Amen somebody. Nevertheless, as we continue this journey with Abram, we will see how God is able to keep him and his. And the same God is able to keep you and me. So, stay tuned. And until next time, mat the Lord richly bless you, my beloved.