5 But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 “Look!” he said. “If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! 7Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”
Sometimes, even though our politicians all speak "English", it seems they are speaking a different language. I was reminded of the country after Sept. 11. We were all unified against a common enemy for a while, and our country had purpose. We have now drifted away from that. It's no wonder that our country is in such 'political upheaval'. We are no longer unified along the principals with which this country was founded. The 'enemy of our souls' is not stupid. He has infiltrated our political system.
There is much to learn in the story of Abraham. I think the main point is that God keeps His word. And we also learn that He is patient with us. After Abraham tried to fulfill God's promises to him in his own way, because he was impatient with God's plan, God appeared to him and said:
17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.
After that God told Abraham that his wife, Sarah, would have a son. Did Abraham, whom God was speaking to personally, believe what he was being told?
17:15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 22 That ended the conversation, and God left Abraham.
If I was God, would I have thrown my hands up in disgust and say "OK, you don't believe me? Forget it, I'll look for someone else!"? I surely would have been tempted to do that. Was God miffed? Is that why the Bible says, "That ended the conversation, and God left Abraham."? Perhaps. But regardless, I'm thankful for His mercy and grace in all of our lives, including Abraham.
I don't know why, but God has certain 'chosen' people. Abraham was one of them. Here is what Genesis 18:19 says of him:
19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
But in this regard, are we not 'all chosen'? Hasn't God told all of us "to do what is right and just"?
Today's reading ended with the obedience of Abraham to God's command to kill his son Isaac. Abraham was willing to do whatever God told him to, even if it didn't make sense. When this story is relayed in the New Testament we see that Abraham believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead because of the promise that all the world would be blessed through Isaac. And this is the basis of the verse - 'without faith it is impossible to please God'. So what was God's response to Abraham's obedience?
15 Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. 16 “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”
What is that last verse? - "All because you have obeyed me."
God, thank you for Your Spirit that indwells us - giving us the ability and grace to obey You. May we not take that blessing for granted, and may we walk in obedience and love to You. Thank You for Your word. Thank You for the examples You have given us. Thank You that You are merciful and thank You for Jesus, by whom we have access to You - the sinless Son of God, sacrificed for us. We are truly blessed.
God wants our obedience and faith, because all the other virtues and callings will fall into place when you have them. The key for all things is love/hate. That is the top of all decisions, then faith/unbelief, then obedience/disobedience. All other things fall into place after that.
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