Note: This article is part of Ron Bartanen’s series, âChrist in Genesis,â that he is teaching in Florida. He included it last week in his ezine, âThe Sower.â
The gospel of Matthew appropriately stands at the head of the New Testament, (Matthew 1:1), focusing upon Abraham at the head of the genealogy of Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, the âKing of the Jews.â He is introduced to us as a dweller in Ur of the Chaldees, a city in Mesopotamia, noted for its culture and luxury. It was also noted as a city given to idolatry and the worship of the moon god known as Nanna in Sumerian and Sin (or Suen) in Akkadian/ Babylonian. It is surprising that he himself âserved other godsâ before God called him (Joshua 24:2). He was wed to his half-sister, Sarai, his fatherâs daughter by another wife (Gen. 20:12).
Abraham stands as the first of the three main roots for the Jewish nationâAbraham, Isaac and Jacob. He was called of God to leave Ur and go to the land of Canaan (11:31-32) with Sarai, his father Terah, and his nephew Lot. They began their journey, but stopped at Haran where his father died. He was called a second time to continue his journey to the land of promise, giving His blessing upon Abrahamâs heritage (12:1-3). Godâs promises in these verses are the first 7 of 17 he received in chapters 17 to 27. The promise that âin thee shall all families of the earth be blessedâ is primarily a prophetic blessing to be fulfilled with the coming of Christ.
There was one serious problem however. Sarai was barren (11:30). Such was a testing of their faith in God to fulfill His promises of a large posterity and the land of promise. With the choice of either the luxury of Ur or a land he had never seen, he chose Godâs promise by faith.
It would seem that his faith was like a river that deepens and widens, gaining strength as it flows. He had ties with family members and friends to hinder him. But he had Godâs promise: âI will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessedâ (12:3).
Can we see the fulfillment of this promise in Americaâs history? From the founding of our nation, even till now, America has been a friend to both Jews and Christianity and our nation has been blessed of God as none other in history. At the same time, the many empires and nations that have shown hostility to both Jews and Christians have fallen under Godâs curse.
The book of Hebrews honors Abraham for his obedience to Godâs call though ânot knowing where he wentâ (11:8). Believing God, relatives and friends could not detain him. His faith didnât put on its brakes at Canaan, âfor he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is Godâ (v, 10)âbeyond earthly hopes. And letâs not forget barren Sarah, who believed Godâs promise of their descendants and their habitation in Canaan, and âwas delivered of a child when she was past age because she judged Him who was faithful who had promisedâ (v. 11).
Hebrews 12:2 to 3 identifies the first 7 of 17 promises Abraham received within chapters 12 to 22:
- a heritage of a great nation (Israel);
- blessings from God in his own life;
- his name would be great (his name being honored by Christians, Jews and Muslims);
- blessings upon those who bless Abraham, including his âseedâ;
- a blessing through his seed (Israel and Christ cf. John 4:22);
- a curse upon all who would curse him and his seed; and
- the universal blessing of all familiesâall of humanity through Abrahamâs seed, physical and spiritual (Israel, Christ and Christians).
A similar blessing was pronounced upon Jacob (Israel) in Gen. 27:28 to 29, Abrahamâs departure from Ur to Canaan was an action of obedient faith in Godâs word (Heb. 11:8).
His unhesitant compliance with the will of God is an example for us. The gospel is good news for all who will heed Godâs call for departure from sin and follow Him in the path of faith and obedience to God. He looked beyond the promised land of Canaan, for âhe looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is Godâ (Heb. 11:10).
Are you looking for that cityâa heavenly city? Those who are are those who are willing to leave the sin-city of Ur in obedience to the call of the gospel, following Him who took the burden of our sins to Calvaryâs cross, died for those sins, and was raised, victorious over death, sharing with all who follow Him His righteousness and glory. Weâre called to faith and repentance, committing our lives to Him in being âburied with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of lifeâ (Romans 6:4).
Godâs call to all today surpasses His call of Abraham. Ours is a call to share in heavenâs glory.
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