Abram was 75 years old when his story begins. Now a while ago Ruth said to me “70's the new 50”... and Abram's father was 130 when Abram was born … but Abram had plenty of reasons to think that some of his hopes in life were not going to be fulfilled; and to settle comfortably with what he had.... He could easily have decided eh was too old to be starting a new venture... And God spoke to him.... Abraham at 75 : too old to be starting a new venture? But the very fact that God spoke to him should encourage us if we are feeling to old or we've made unwise choices or in some other way come to a point where we feel we have no future. Abram certainly wasn't too old to start an adventure of faith!
So this morning I'm speaking to all of us who think we are living with the consequences of decisions we have made and things we have done. I'm talking to those of us who feel we've missed the boat, had our chance; those of us who feel frustrated and tired.... if we are feeling to old or we've made unwise choices or in some other way come to a point where we feel we have no future. And God wants to speak to us.....that should encourage us.
When God speaks, listening isn't optional.
The chapter actually begins not with how old Abram was – it begins with the voice of God. It is god who takes the initiative and begins this covenant relationship with Abram. This is where the Abraham story begins. And these are not just random, nice words of encouragement. This is a “covenant”... a treaty, a special promise, that the Lord makes with Abram.
Covenant. In the ancient world, these treaties or covenants were often made between different rulers or groups of people. They could sometimes be pretty much between equals: “We will allow you to pass through our territory, and you will allow us to pass through your territory; If you have a war, we will send our soldiers to help you fight; and if we have a war, you will send soldiers to help us.” But sometimes these covenants were made between a powerful king, and a much less powerful country. They usually went something like this: “You will pay taxes to our king every year; and send soldiers to fight in our army; and if you do, we will leave you to live in peace”. Now God doesn't come as an equal to make an agreement with Abram (or with us) he imposes a covenant, like this: “You do exactly as I say, go where I tell you – and I will make you a great nation through whom all nations on earth will bless themselves.” It is a covenant that establishes Abram’s family as “A divine protectorate.” Idols had to be forsaken, and commitment given to the Lordship of Yahweh. God speaks to us – invites us into what he wants to do – and makes a covenant with us. We don’t' negotiate the terms. We don’t' say “OK, Lord, I'll go where you tell me, so long as I am kept healthy and safe and prosperous. But if you don't look after me, then I'm cutting loose and living for myself.” We either say “OK, Lord, I accept your terms!” or we walk away. It's that simple.
Call to significance. You see, this was not just about Abram. Don't get me wrong, Abram was an immensely privileged person. His very name would be changed to reflect the change in his status, from Abram (“The father is exalted”) to Abraham (“The father of nations”). But the terms of what God said to Abram, refer to “the land that I will show you” (and that Hebrew word “ha-'erets” – the land – is still important to Israel today. And God promised to make Abram's family into a “great nation”: it wasn't just about the land (and it never is!) but about the people, the community. And God promised “by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves”. God was calling Abram, this seventy-five year old man, who had lived in a close-knit family and followed where his father Terah had led, to a place of global significance, poses sign a land, fathering a nation and blessing the nations. We need to hear God's call to significance. It's not too late. You're not too old. You've not used up all your chances. You don’t' need to be “stuck” spiritually. God calls us to significance. To possess the land, to spawn a growing people, and to bless the nations.
Creative blessing This is not just a call but a promise. When God said to Abram, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves” he was speaking a blessing over Abram. And these words are “Creative words” like in Genesis 1.3 where the Lord said “Let there be light and” there was light. God's word doesn't return to him empty but accomplishes God's purpose (Isa 55. 11) So, when God speaks these words, the very act of speaking them out, begins the process of making them happen. God speaks over us in creative blessing, and that word does something. Think about what God has said about us: “Whoever believes in me has eternal life.” “You shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth”. “It is the father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” “If you forgive anyone's sins they are forgiven.”
We need to hear God's call to significance , his imposed new covenant, and his creative blessing. Isn't it wonderful? Isn't it amazing. For us, the ones who feel we are to old, too tired, too late; tied up in our circumstances, God speaks, with a covenant, a call to significance and a creative blessing. God's purposes were bigger than Abram. God perspective was higher than Abram's.
When god speaks, listening isn't enough.
“So Abram went” (v. 4) Abraham responds with obedience that is rooted in faith.
The Faith When God spoke again and said “To your descendants I will give this land,” there were two particular problems:
- There were Canaanite in the land. This land wasn't just sitting there waiting to be occupied. IF God was going to give Abram's descendants the land, he would need to do something about the Canaanite who were already there. and
- Abram didn't have any descendants, nor much likelihood of having any. 11. 30 tells us that Sarai was infertile..
The obedience is seen in getting up and going. Now, remember all the obstacles to obedience: Abram was older in years; he was already fairly prosperous and comfortable. He was responsible for a significant family group that included not only his own wife but also his nephew, the son of his deceased brother. He could easily have said to himself, “I'm too old for this – I'm doing rather well here in Harran, other people depend on me for their livelihood. After all, when my father was alive we already did this once, and we settled here because its' a good place to live. So why should I move on? Especially since I don’t' actually know where I mm going to? It's not sensible; it's not prudent; it's not convenient; I'm too old for all this.” But “Abram went.” And even when God had promised, “To your descendants I will give this land” Abram kept on going, because God hadn’t' said “stop!” He kept going, even though he was heading for the “Negev” - the “dry place”. He set the character of the nation for the next several hundred years, as pioneers and pilgrims rather than settlers. He was obedient.
© Gilmour Lilly April 2015
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