Genesis 13
When I was just a kid, my Mom had a Christmas album by Perry Como. One song, in particular, struck a "chord" with me—C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S. It was about a boy who was confused by all the messages of Christmas, so his Mom sat him down and explained to him what it was really all about, simply by spelling it out—"'C' is for the Christ Child, born upon that day; 'H' is for Herald Angels in the night; 'R' means our Redeemer; 'I' means Israel; 'S' is for the stars that shone so bright; 'T' is for three wise men, they who traveled far; 'M' is for the manger where He lay; 'A' is for all He stands for; 'S' means shepherds came—and that's why there's a Christmas Day." I think hearing those words was one of those "growing" moments for me—year after year—and I thank God for that!
Throughout the story of Abram and Sarai, we see the call upon their lives to grow and go! I think their biggest challenge was to truly believe God's promise that they would be the parents of multitudes—and hence, their new names, Abraham and Sarah. They were growing older and older, and it seemed entirely impossible to have a child as promised. But such faith and trust would be absolutely crucial, in that this Child of Promise, Isaac, would forever point to the coming Messiah, namely Jesus. Remember Lot, Abram's nephew? I wonder if Abram could have seen Lot as an "easy way" to get an heir! Remember his initial call?—"...Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee." (Gen. 12:1) It sure looks like he wasn't even supposed to bring Lot, his "kindred", in the first place. Years later, in Genesis 13, strife develops, and Abram makes Lot separate, and it is then, the call is reaffirmed—"And the Lord said to Abram…Lift up now thine eyes, and look...Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." What a promise! If only they could have learned their lesson at this point!
But they didn't, and they would try other ways. In Genesis 15, Abram suggests that his own servant, Eliezer, could be his heir, thereby, fixing everything. In Genesis 16, we are told of yet another attempt to solve the whole problem—have a son by Hagar, Sarai's Egyptian servant. And, oh, what a disaster that turned out to be—Ishmael, the Child of the Flesh, would be born into the situation, and forever be a "thorn" to Israel—even today, as she is surrounded by those who want to destroy her! Time after time after time—they tried to solve their own problems, and only messed things up. And yet, God uses the whole thing to grow them in faith. Now, Abram could trust his God to take him all of the way to Genesis 22 and the willingness to sacrifice his control over Isaac, the Child of Promise—and even witness resurrection! (Heb. 11:19) Praise God—true growth comes in letting God have His way His way. Only then, will we be truly ready to go on in Him.
~ Rev. Roy D. Warren, Jr.
