Since moving to Florida I have been rereading the book of Genesis, in part because I find the stories of the women and men of faith to be both inspirational and insightful in the ways my current situation mirrors theirs. The story of Abraham is one to which I constantly return, particularly when I find myself faced with difficult or significant life decisions. It is no coincidence that Abraham is named “the Father of our Faith,” and in real life moments where the gap between my intellectual assent to God’s sovereign goodness and my actual practical trust seem miles apart, my soul is encouraged by the exemplary obedience of Abraham. Even more encouraging is the fact that every character in the book of Genesis, even our spiritual forefathers, is decidedly fallen. Sometimes I feel like God is saying "You know Jas, if ol' knuckleheaded Jacob can do it, my grace is surely sufficient for you." Abrahram is no exception.
Consider: God’s call to Abraham consisted of very little more than a call to “go forth.” No destination. No real direction. It’s almost like a divine spin off of the Nike ads – “Just go forth.” The one thing Abraham clung to was God’s promise to bless him, to prosper him, and to make his name great. In that ancient culture, there were really only two pursuits that concerned most men – land and descendants. God offers Abraham both. And He ultimately fulfilled His promise in ways beyond Abraham’s imagination. It wasn’t easy, and there are several things that I’ve thought about lately as I’ve read through the difficulties and failures, trials and successes that Abraham endured in the process of following God.
This is the most recent: when God called Abraham, it seems he required that Abraham leave what was familiar (his country) and what was familial (his relatives and “his father’s house.”) The difficulty of that type of move is something with which I can sympathize. This nomadic spiritual journey bit hits kinda close to home. It was difficult for Abraham too, I’m sure, and it wasn’t like God was appearing to him every day to remind him that he was doing the right thing. It looks to me that there were years, often decades between God’s visitations with ol Abe, in between which he was forced to wrestle with God’s direction and faithfulness as he walked through the valleys from one spiritual mountain top to the next. I reckon that's why Abraham built altars whenever God appeared and promised - altars that served as constant reminders in the daily grind to keep going, because God has promised.
But even when Abraham was separated from his last remaining ties with family (Lot) because of strife and a “falling out” of sorts, God renewed and reiterated His promise with his beloved Abraham. It is often in those moments of difficulty that, as Matthew Henry says, “God will abundantly make up in spiritual peace what we lose for the preservation of neighborly peace.” Abraham had had to give up what God has promised him – descendants (through Lot) and the land. Surely he doubted God’s goodness at times. Yet MH again notes, “Communion with God may, at any time, serve to make up the want of conversation with our friends; when our relations are separated from us, yet God is not.”
For those of you who read this blog, particularly you Chattanoogans, know that I miss you each very much. Florida has been great, but it's most glaring shortcoming is that none of you are here. But I pray for myself, and each of you, that your communion with our great God be ever more sweet, and know that while distance separates us, the Spirit is ever present. I am discovering again the joy of God’s word and the sweetness of His presence, and while our relationships in this life are God given blessings to mirror the many facets of his character, would that God commune with us in such a way that all friendships pale in comparison to the depth and richness of Jesus’ gracious love for us.
Sola Deo Gloria
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