As an aside we learned that 1,000 kids were not in school in one school in Winnipeg during the million person march. That is a lot of goats to have to deal with. It is interesting how we have changed the very basic definition of a child to be compatible with goats. The School superintendent suggested that the school system missed these “kids”. The main thing the school divisions are concerned about is the revenue they receive from the government for each child registered in a particular division. Apparently the school division received around $2,000.00 per student per year, besides other perks. If 1,000 children were to be removed from one school division, that would be quite a financial difference. Of course if parents pull their children out of one fire to put them into another, it will not help.
We were reminded as well that the protests did not gain anything. Our godless P.M. accused the protests of promoting hatred. He will continue to reject anything that goes against his evil plans. Born again Christians separate from the world and stand in God’s holiness. We speak up and teach the truth. We do not join hands with ungodly people to try to make a point.
The Bible teaches the importance of Biblical separation. As we look at Abram, God was commanding him to leave his idolatrous homeland so that He could create a new nation of God-fearing people. Abram’s descendants did not appreciate the blessings of God and they did not honour Him.
We see in our verses that age alone is not the determining factor for death. Haran was younger than his father and died before his father. Our every breath is in God’s hands. He determines the length of our days. During those days, we need to learn to know Him and listen to Him.
Chapter 11 gives us the summary account of God’s dealings with Abram. Chapter 12 will give us more detail on the matter. In verse 31 we read that Terah, Abram’s father took his sons and their wives and began the journey from Ur of the Chaldees to the land of Canaan. This would have been a long journey. They would have done much walking and they would have needed to take some supplies with them
In verse 32 we read that Terah died in Haran. He was 205 years old at the time of his death. We can see the declining age of man after the flood.
In chapter 12 we see that God gave further detail regarding his command to Abram. Abram was told to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house. Abram was to take his wife Sarai and leave the rest of the family. It could be that for safety reasons, he did not want to travel alone. One of the important lessons that Abram would need to learn was the need to trust God. We know that Abram did have concern with how the pagan nations would look upon his wife. The Bible tells us that Sarai was fair to look upon. Abram was afraid that they would kill him to get his wife.
At this time in the history of mankind, there was the common knowledge that a man’s wife was his wife for life. God had instructed Adam and Eve in this in the Garden. This teaching had been passed on from generation to generation. We know that Cain’s descendants did not accept this teaching, but it was still being taught. Divorce and remarriage were not allowed by God then nor is it allowed now. Murder is also not allowed by God but it seems that some societies would rather murder a man than commit adultery with his wife.
Lost people find many different ways to rationalize their wickedness. Abram was commanded to leave his father’s homeland and to go to a land that God would shew him.
In verse 2 the LORD promised to bless Abram. He would be a great nation. His name would be great and he would be a blessing to many. We know the ultimate fulfillment of that promise was found in the Lord Jesus Christ becoming flesh through the lineage of Abram and Sarai.
In verse 3 God promised Abram that He would watch over him. He would bless those that would bless him and he would curse him that curseth Abram. All the families of the earth would be blessed through Abram. Abram heard these words, but did not believe them at this point. We see that in God’s account of Abram’s life.
This was quite the promise that God was making to Abram. As noted above, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ was a blessing to all of mankind. It was a clear demonstration of God’s love for mankind. Those who will turn to God in repentance and be saved are blessed beyond measure.
It is important to note that God spoke to Abram as the LORD. The Hebrew word translated as LORD is “Jehovah”. This name describes God as the self-existent One. God acts independent of man and independent of His creation. His creation is subservient to Him. He does not need to consult with His creation on anything. He can use anything in His creation for His glory and for His purposes.
Abram was going to get first hand knowledge of the greatness of the God he already knew, but needed to know in a much greater way.
When God saves a person they begin their walk with Him. As they walk with Him they grow in Him. New Evangelicalism defies that truth. In New Evangelicalism, a person is led away from the true God. That is why born again Christians need to follow God and in so doing, separate from the ungodliness that permeates so much of the world. As we look at God’s dealings with Abram we see a continued pattern of His way of blessing that far exceeds anything the world could ever offer. It is important to follow the truth and benefit from the blessings God has for His children.
Pastor Bartel