During many, many years, despite of God's judgment on sin, most people ignored God and continued to sin. But a few really tried to follow God. One of these was Abraham, earlier known as Abram. According to the N.I.V. Bible, "God appeared to Abram and said, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."
Now this took a lot of faith in God, the God Abram had agreed to obey. Abram had a wife, Sarai, and no children, but...."Leave my country?" He was not totally sure he wanted to do that. But, God made him a promise he could not refuse. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. And all people on earth will be blessed by you."
Of course, Abram left, at age 75, taking his wife, Sarai and his nephew, Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated. They also took people with them, allies Abram had acquired in Haran, their late home. They all set out for the Land of Canaan and, in time, all arrived in Canaan safely.
As they traveled over many miles they built altars here and there to the Lord in gratitude for the Lord's appearance to Abram. Many times during these travels, he asked Sarai, his wife, to pretend she was his sister as he was afraid, her being so attractive, someone might kill him to get her, if they knew of their marriage. But a sister? Surely they would not expect Abram to refuse them their satisfaction with a sister!! But when serious diseases affected this one and that one in response to his atrocious lie, he finally had to admit, "She is not my sister. She is my wife." Angrily, they forced him on his way.
You are right in assuming Abram was not a perfect man. He was very imperfect, but he loved the Lord very much and began to learn from God those things that God stood for. In time, Abram was good, a very good and admired man, and he never stopped trusting in God.
Abram became very wealthy, and Lot also, with many herds of cattle and many tents. The land could not support them both when they got to the Negev, so they decided to separate. To avoid a dispute, Abram allowed Lot to choose which direction he would go to set up his home. Lot chose the plain of Jordan, well-watered and lovely, so Lot set out toward the east. The two parted company: Abram, lived in the land of Canaan while Lot lived among the cities on the plain, and pitched his tent near Sodom.
Now the men of Sodom were wicked and sinned greatly against the Lord, but Lot still chose the cities. Abram, from where he stood, looked north, south, east and west, and all the land he could see was his.
Let's look for a moment at the choice the two men made Abram could see nothing but land and what was growing naturally on it, while Lot was fascinated by the works and manners of mankind. He found his choice to be eclectic and exciting. Abram chose the peace, the quiet, and the hope of the land and what it offered. He thought of his people and their animals and what the land might bring to each one. Neither was wrong; but perhaps, one was fascinated by life as it is now, and the other hopeful for each person who had come with him to know God and receive the peace the land seemed to offer, the kind of peace you want to grow old in.
Tomorrow, learn more about Abram and Sarai and how God was going to create many through them. These two were very real, good people, but having no children was a huge heartache. Yet, God was supposed to create--through them--an entire nation!?!
Join me tomorrow for Part II of Abraham's story. See you then!
God bless You and Keep you, And may his Face shine upon you, and give you Peace!
Jo INMN
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