Abraham The Friend of God
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
1. Early beginnings. Perhaps, in all history there is none who has ever attained unto the honor and fame of Abraham. Abraham lived half way from Adam to Christ. He lived five hundred years after the flood.
When the ark rested on Mount Ararat, the peoples of the earth began to multiply with great rapidity. As families grew under the headship of Noah's four sons, they scattered into various parts of the country. The whole world lay before them and they took their choices in habitation. Abraham's father, Tera, dwelt in Mesopotamia.
The whole land of Mesopotamia was given over to idolatry. It was mid such environment that Abraham was born. It was there that he lived, and it was there that the glory of the Lord appeared unto him.
When God recounted the beginnings of His people Israel, He said, "Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, thy mother an Hittite." It was under this similitude, of an infant born of such parentage and cast out to the loathing of its person, with no eye to pity, and with none to have compassion, that God spoke of the natural state of Jerusalem.
2. Abraham's call. Whether there was something in Abraham that caused God to choose him, or whether it was merely an act of God's omnipotent elective choice, we may not know. We believe that it was both. God chose Abraham because Abraham, living in a world of sin and corruption, had kept himself clean and pure. God chose Abraham because He saw in Abraham one of undaunted faith, who would be known as the friend of God, obedient to every call of God.
There is a little verse in Deuteronomy which speaks of Israel's beginning. It says, "the Lord did not set His love upon you * * because ye were more in number than any other people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you."
3. Abraham's vision. It was in Mesopotamia that the glory of God appeared unto Abraham. We may not know just how God appeared unto this stalwart youth, but we know that He did appear as the Lord of Glory. We know that that vision of God which Abraham had before ever he left home was a vision which caused him to know Him whom he believed. As the years came and went, God often appeared unto Abraham, and spoke unto him as a man speaketh face to face.
I. A CALL TO SEPARATION (Genesis 12:1-2)
1. Get thee out. The words still ring in our minds "Get thee out." Were those words given to Abraham alone? Has not God said unto us, "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord?"
The call of the whole Bible is a call to separation. Far back in the beginning God separated the light from the darkness. That is the message of Genesis 1:3; Genesis 1:4. What is the message of 2 Corinthians 6:14 ? It is similar "What communion hath light with darkness?"
Here is the will of God for each of us "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."
2. Get thee in. Not only was Abraham to come out from his father's house and from his own country, but he was to go unto a land that God would show him.
Here is another unvarying truth. When God leads us out of one thing, He will lead us in to something better. We are not asked to give up something for nothing, but we give up one inheritance, that we may receive a better and more enduring inheritance.
Let no one imagine that Abraham's going out did not mean a real sacrifice. There was much of vital cost in Abraham's leaving Mesopotamia. He was knit to his family and his friends as we are knit. He loved his native land as we love ours; yet, he was willing to leave all for the Lord.
Christ has said, "If any man love father or mother more than Me, he is not worthy of Me." We must forsake all to go with Him.
II. ABRAHAM OBEYED, AND WENT OUT (Hebrews 11:8)
1. The departure. Can you see Abraham making ready to leave? The friends gather round and ask, "Whither are you going?" Abraham can only say, "We are going, we know not whither." Perhaps they derided the group so eager to start upon an unknown journey. Abraham could well have replied, "We know not the way, but we know our Guide."
2. The departure was under promise of blessing. God said to Abraham, "Get thee out * * and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing." In all of this Abraham believed God, and doubted not.
Even now there comes a call to many a youth to leave all and follow Christ. This call is given under a promise "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." God will bless all those who walk with Him in the obedience of faith.
3. The departure was an act of undaunted faith. God gave promise of blessing, but God did not give Abraham photographs of the land of promise. Nor did Abraham insist on sending "spies ahead to spy out the land." He took God at His Word, he stepped out on the promise, and started, not knowing whither he went.
There would, of necessity, be obstacles by the way. There would be difficulties to overcome, disappointments to face, dangers to surmount, distances to cover, delays to encounter; yet, through it all, and over it all, Abraham went. "They went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came." Such were the triumphs of faith. Faith inherited the promises.
III. ABRAHAM EN ROUTE (Genesis 12:4)
There are five short, terse statements in chapter twelve, which we may do well to consider.
1. In Genesis 12:4 : "And Abram departed." The underlying thought here is summed up in one word "tent-dwelling." In Hebrews eleven we read: "Dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise."
From the day that Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees he reckoned himself a stranger and a pilgrim. He journeyed looking for a city whose Builder and Maker is God. Beloved, we need to take up this same "pilgrim" attitude.
2. In Genesis 12:5 : "And they went forth." The first, "And they departed," carries with it the backward look, the farewell, the leaving all. The second suggests the forward look the country toward which they journey, the goal, the far-flung vision of faith. "They went forth" also suggests faith in operation. They believed and they went out in quest of the goal of their faith.
3. In Genesis 12:6 : "And Abram passed through." This verse suggests the dangers by the way. The countries they traversed, the people they met. This verse also suggests that they never were deterred from their great objective. They may have halted here, and stayed there, but they always took up their journey again.
We may pause for a while here on this earth strand, but we have no continuing city our Home is over there.
4. In Genesis 12:8 : "And he removed from thence." No place in which Abraham tented could hold him long. He could not stop his journeying until he had reached the end of his way.
Some there are who do begin well; for a season they follow on to know the Lord, but soon they falter by the wayside. They become entangled with the affairs of this world. They become settlers, and lose their stranger and pilgrim calling.
5. In Genesis 12:9 : "And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south." Beloved, are we tent-dwellers, or are we house-builders? Are we strangers, or are we citizens? Are we journeying toward a city, or are we content to abide down here?
IV. THE SEPARATION OF TWO LIVES (Genesis 13:9)
1. The cause of the separation. It is not easy to judge Lot. Why did he journey with Abraham? They were related by ties of blood, this we know. However, not all of Abraham's kin left Haran with him. Lot's father had died, and he, doubtless, had received a goodly inheritance from him. Why then did he cast his lot with his uncle? Did the thought of new scenes and new opportunities appeal to him? Was he swayed by a devout love for his uncle? Did he catch the fire of Abraham's faith, and delight in Abraham's God?
We may not know all of these things; we do know, however, that Lot was a righteous man, and that he loved right things. However, the time came when the two men grew to such proportions in flocks, and herds, that the land was too narrow to hold them both. Thus Abraham suggested that they separate.
2. Abraham's noble spirit of generosity. Abraham said to Lot, the land is before you, take your choice. Lot did not go to the Lord for guidance. He simply saw that the land that lay toward Sodom was well watered everywhere. He only saw a good pasture for his cattle, and the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as strategic centers, where he could sell his cattle.
Thus, Lot chose him that course, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. Times of vital decisions come now and then in most lives. Times of decisions which will work for weal or woe in a large way. From a spiritual standpoint Lot's choice was most disastrous.
3. God's pledge to Abraham. After Lot was gone, God said to Abraham, "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever." Abraham looked to God and God led him into Mamre the place of fatness.
V. THE BATTLE OF THE KINGS (Genesis 14:8)
1. Four kings fought against five. The result of the battle was that the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, with their confederate kings, were taken captive and "they took all the goods of Sodom and. Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abraham's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed." This was God's first great warning to Lot. He was carried away, and all that he had was led into captivity.
2. Abraham to the rescue. When Abraham heard that his nephew was taken captive he armed his trained servants and pursued after the enemy. He overtook them, scattered them, and brought back all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and brought also Lot and his goods.
The king of Sodom went out to meet Abraham after the slaughter, and he offered unto him all the goods which he had taken. There is no doubt but that Abraham had already considered this, for he had a perfect right to retain all that he had captured. However, Abraham said to the king of Sodom, "I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the Most High God, the Possessor of Heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich." Here was a noble resolve indeed on the part of Abraham.
3. Abraham meeting Melchisedec. As Abraham returned from the battle, he met Melchisedec, the priest of the Most High God. To this man, who was also king of Salem, Abraham gave a tithe of all that he possessed.
Melchisedec was made after the pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was both King and Priest. First of all He was King of Righteousness, and after that He was King of Peace.
When Abraham gave Melchisedec tithes, he set a pace for Christians of today. Would that all of us might bring in our tithes that God's storehouse might be full!
VI. ABRAHAM AND LOT CONTRASTED (Genesis 19:29)
It is most striking to compare Abraham in Genesis eighteen and Lot in Genesis nineteen.
1. Abraham dwelt in the plains of Mamre.
o Lot dwelt in the city of Sodom.
2. Abraham sat in the tent door.
o Lot sat in the gate of the city.
3. Abraham was visited by Heavenly Guests in the heat of the day.
o Lot was visited at eventide.
4. Three men came unto Abraham.
o Two men came unto Lot.
5. When Abraham urged his Guests to wash their feet and rest, they said, "So do."
o When Lot wanted to welcome his guests, they said, "Nay; but we will abide in the street all night."
6. Abraham ran to meet them, and hastened to welcome them.
o Lot rose up to meet them, and pressed upon them to turn in.
7. God said of Abraham, "He will command his children and his household after him."
o Lot seemed as one who mocked to his sons-in-law.
VII. THE SON OF PROMISE (Genesis 12:7)
God gave Abraham definite promise that unto his seed, that is his son, would He give the land. The Holy Spirit in Galatians, commenting on God's promise said, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." As the years came and went Abraham resorted to various schemes to help God out on His promise.
1. Abraham said: "What wilt Thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" Then God said, "This shall not be thine heir," but thine own son shall be thine heir.
2. Abraham, urged by Sarah his wife, took Hagar to wife, and Ishmael was born unto him. Then Abraham said to the Lord, "O that Ishmael might live before Thee!" God immediately said, "No, not Ishmael, but Isaac."
Then God spake to Abraham and said, Sarah shall have a son. It was then that Abraham's supreme faith shone forth. He, in hope, believed against hope. It was for this cause that Abraham was called the friend of God. He believed God; he trusted implicitly in God; he knew that what God had promised He was able to perform.
The years went by until Abraham had reached his hundredth year, and Sarah was almost as old. Then Isaac was born.
AN ILLUSTRATION
PLEADING THE HANDWRITING
"'We have a strong tie upon God, because He giveth us the promise, which is our ground of hope. Surely we may put His bonds in suit, and say, "Thy handwriting is placed before Thee, O Lord." We say among men we have it in black and white, and there is no getting over it: a man's handwriting binds him. Now, we may be sure that the Lord will never deny His own writing, nor run back from a bond given under His own hand and seal. Every promise of Scripture is a writing of God, which may be pleaded before Him with this reasonable request, 'Do as Thou hast said.' The Creator will not cheat His creature who depends upon His truth; and, far more, the Heavenly Father will not break His Word to His own child. 'Remember the Word unto Thy servant, on which Thou hast caused me to hope,' is most prevalent pleading. It is a double argument: it is Thy Word, wilt Thou not keep it? Why hast Thou spoken it if Thou wilt not make it good? Thou hast caused me to hope in it, wilt Thou disappoint the hope which Thou hast Thyself begotten in me?
"How sure are Thy promises, O my God! Forgive me that I ever doubt them, and give me more faith, that I may treat them as the blessings which they guarantee, even as men pass checks and notes from hand to hand as if they were the gold they stand for.