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The Calling of Abraham (6)

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The Calling of Abraham (6)

5 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Rev. J.B. Zippro, Grand, Rapids, MI

We all know the expression “last but not least.” We may also use that expression when we consider the seventh or last promise made to Abram. This promise is the greatest one because it pertains to all the families of the earth. Not only the seed of Abraham will be blessed, but all the families of the earth, all generations, shall be blessed in Abraham. This is a special promise which Paul has said is of Christ; it is the promise of the Messiah. Here the Lord looks not only upon the people of Israel, the seed of Abraham, but also upon the heathen. His people will be brought to salvation even from among them.

Here we find the promise of the great Redeemer who would come in the fullness of time, and only in Him can a sinner be blessed because of Him who would come into the world. This promise, found in Genesis 3:15, was not only to Adam and Eve, just as it was not only to Abram; it was the revelation of the Covenant of Life, the Covenant of Grace, and of the Mediator who would come through Abraham. According to the flesh He would come out of Adam, and it was to the joy of Abraham. That was the reason that Abram was full of gladness. In this promise Abram had seen something of Christ’s coming. He would never forget it, even though he would not completely understand it when he first received it.

The Lord, however, would reveal it in his life so that the Lord Jesus could say in the gospel of John that Abraham rejoiced to see His day. Abraham had longed for the day of Christ, and his heart was filled with joy when he saw Christ, the Mediator, the Surety, the Head of the covenant. Therefore, blessed are all those who may be in Christ. Oh, what an eternal wonder it is when we are cut off from Adam and ingrafted in Christ. This is necessary for each of us. This is what happens in regeneration, in conversion; we are cut off from our old root, Adam, and ingrafted to become a branch in the living Vine, which is Christ. What does the sinner know about that? In the beginning so little, but it will become the great lesson in the life of God’s children to lose everything of self so that they may find everything in Christ.


The eyes of Abram could not see where he had to go, and he did not know in which direction he had to go, but he followed. That is faith.


“So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him” (Genesis 12:4a). He departed; he left; he went on his way without any objection, in unconditional surrender. There were no conditions on Abram’s part. He did not say, “Lord, I will go if Thou wilt do this or that.” We do not read that he asked for a large house, a good place to live, or permission to go to the South or to the North. He did not ask the Lord to give him anything. It is faith to go in the way which the Lord shows us. What a wonder it is when we may be obedient to the voice of the Lord in our lives. That shows the power of faith, as we read of it in the well-known chapter Hebrews 11. The Scriptures are so rich, but especially that chapter where we read time after time, “by faith....” “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed....”

Recently while driving through the city, I saw a sign near a church, and on that sign was written, “Faith goes where eyes cannot see.” Whether the truth was preached there or not, this saying is true. The eyes of Abram could not see where he had to go, and he did not know in which direction he had to go, but he followed. That is faith. Without hesitation it is a surrendering of the heart, saying, “O Lord, Thou knowest better than I. Thou knowest what I stand in need of; Thou knowest the direction wherein I should walk. Lord, here I am; lead me, teach me, instruct me.” That is faith, not thinking about how it will go here or how it will go there. Unbelief is always contemplating how things will or should go and wishing to know what will happen in the future.

True faith, however, is resting and leaning upon the Lord, trusting the God of promises. Often, much unbelief remains in our heart as in Abram’s. Oh, that the Lord would keep us from picturing Abram as some kind of hero who had a very strong faith as some commentators do. It is not Abram, my readers, because we will see when we come to the end of Genesis 12 what Abram was in and of himself. Was this faith always in exercise? Was he always so obedient? Did he always trust the Lord? How much unbelief remained in the heart also of Abram when he lied to Pharaoh and said that Sarai was his sister. That was again the old Adam.

Here he received grace to follow, and he went out and departed. In Hebrews 11 we read, “...and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” When my family and I left our fatherland, we knew where we would come; there was a parsonage, and people were waiting for us. With Abram it was different—not knowing what was coming, not knowing the future, not knowing where it would lead him, but still believing and trusting that the Lord would bring him there, where he would receive His blessing.

— To be continued —

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The Calling of Abraham (6)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van maandag 1 juni 2009

The Banner of Truth | 24 Pagina's