“Look unto Abraham your father, and Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” Isaiah 51:2
Dear Ones:
The tides of history reveal to us upheaval after upheaval, socially, economically, politically, and even religiously. And yet, as the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote: “…there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecc. 1:9) How can this be? We sometimes think that we discover a new way of thinking and of living, but when we dig deeper, we discover that it has been known and lived before. The form changes, and also, the magnitude, for “knowledge has increased, ” but the essence is the same. So, we are left with the great dilemma of time, “What course is the right and good way, the way of purpose and satisfaction of heart and soul, the way of peace of mind?” Immediately, we are faced with the confusing fact that there have always been a multitude of “ideas” of how to live, even to live eternally. In the history of Israel, after being in close contact with these multitudes of ideas, and idolatrous philosophies, she began to seek her God again. But how would she find Him? We find in the book of Isaiah, that God had provided her a signpost, a point of reference, even, a point of beginning, whereby she could find her way back, out of the confusion of wasted years, to the place of blessing and assurance…that place of confidence and faith. What was the signpost? It was the person of Abraham, and his wife Sarah. It would be in the remembrance of him, and God’s dealings with him, that the nation could find her way back to the God of Abraham. How?
The first thing that we see in God’s call to Israel is that she “Look,” look at Abraham and Sarah. And the first question that comes to mind is: “Why did God choose Abraham and Sarah, to reveal Himself, and teach them His ways?” We know that it was by no merit of their own. But as in the case of the Apostle Paul, so in the lives of Abraham and Sarah, God would find in them a responsive heart, one that would trust Him, and faithfully follow Him, howbeit imperfectly. Consequently, He could accomplish His purposes in and through them. Secondly, we see that God called them to be separate. “He called them alone.” They were called to leave the idolatry of their time, and to worship the ONLY true and living God. Thirdly, Abraham and Sarah became the recipients of the blessing of God, His favor, His provision and protection. There was the very tangible blessing of God upon them. Lastly, God gave them promises, specifically to Abraham concerning his descendants, his seed. He would increase them, even multiply them.
Dear Father, God of Abraham and Sarah, give us grace to see that You call us to be Yours, wholly, unreservedly yours. In accordance with Your calling, you have chosen to bless us, and extend that blessing to others through us. Give us grace to look, not only to Abraham and Sarah, but primarily unto Thee, for Thou art our Maker and Redeemer. Then we shall excape confusion, and with great confidence live for Thee. We thank Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad