Foreigners and Strangers on Earth预览

Abraham - Go from your country (Genesis 12:1)

UR OF THE CHALDEES

In Abraham's times (circa 1900 BC), Ur was a city that was very advanced from an architectural perspective. It was also a center of idolatry. Tera, Abraham's father, was an idolater (Joshua 24:2). We do not know why, but Terah and his family went to the land of Canaan (Genesis 11:31,32). However, he stopped at Haran in Upper Mesopotamia.

HARAN

Haran was a town on a trade route with close ties to Babylon. It is not clear why Terah stopped there. In Abraham’s family, Haran speaks of compromise. It was not Ur, but in some ways it was very similar. In addition to Terah not completing the journey to Canaan, Rachel and other members of Jacob’s family found themselves mixed up with idols at Haran (Genesis 31:19,30-35; 35:2,3).

ABRAHAM'S CALLING

The Bible speaks of a double calling of Abraham: first to Ur and then to Haran (Acts 7:2-4; Genesis 12:1-5). He stopped at Haran out of respect for his father, but after Terah's death he was free to respond fully to God’s call and left without knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). There is a lesson for us: we must follow God without insisting to know in advance all of His plans for ourselves or others (John 21:20-23).

ABRAHAM'S FAITH

Abraham’s faith was seen not only in his departure from his native land and from that where his father had sojourned, but also in his staying in the country (Hebrews 11:9). The contrast with the story of Lot highlights the characteristics of the faith shown by Abraham by staying in tents. Lot started like Abraham (Genesis 13:5), but then he selfishly chose what he viewed as the best part of the land (Genesis 13:11). Abraham moved around the land, but Lot ended up in a wicked city (Genesis 13:12,13). Although he disagreed with their behavior, he did not leave Sodom (2 Peter 2:6-8). Even at the time of the destruction of Sodom, he was attached to earthly things and a city that did not belong to him (Genesis 19:15,16).

ABRAHAM'S COMPROMISE

The Bible does not portray Abraham as a man who never had any hesitation or make mistakes. Twice he tried to protect Sarah with a half-lie. It's interesting to note that his compromises occurred when he departed from the Promised Land: in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20) and at Gerar (Genesis 20:1-13). However, the overall judgment of the New Testament is that he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God (Romans 4:20).

ABRAHAM'S BEHAVIOUR

Abraham did not mix with the people of the land. He was a stranger, but he was respected. In Genesis 14:13, he is called "Abram the Hebrew", that is, "he who comes from beyond the river". When Sarah died, he had to negotiate to buy a tomb. It is significant how the Hittites judged his behavior (Genesis 23:6). His servant, Eliezer of Damascus, learned from him to worship the God of Abraham sincerely (Genesis 24:27,42,48,52).

ABRAHAM'S HERITAGE

At his death, Abraham had only one tomb in the Promised Land. He was waiting for the true city, of which the Promised Land was only the deposit. His faith is an example, stimulus and encouragement for us all (Romans 4:9-12,16-18). Through Abraham, the stranger, God promised to bless all peoples (Genesis 12:1-3). In his progeny, Christ Jesus, all the scattered children of God are gathered together (John 11:52).