“…that you may know that I, the Lord, which call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” Isaiah 45:3
Dear Ones:
It is remarkable that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord would speak to him in this way: “I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be perfect.” (Genesis 17:1) Why did God speak to Abram in this manner? The first thing we see is that He gives to Abram an accurate vision of who He truly is, the Almighty God. He is seeking to communicate to Abram in the clearest of terms, that He is the possessor of ALL power and authority, and that nothing is impossible to Him to accomplish in His will. He reveals Himself to Abram in this way so that Abram will be enabled to believe Him for that which is humanly impossible. This is clearly seen in his words: “…I make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” (v.2) This resolved commitment by God, which He calls His “covenant,” is sustained, enforced, and accomplished by the fact that He IS the almighty God, alone able to realize such a thing. God will even go so far as to tell Abram: “…you shall be a father of nations…many nations have I made you.” (v.4,5) Only God can declare and do such a thing. But if Abram’s faith is to rise to the level of devotion and commitment for God to believe him to do all that He has promised, then this elevated vision of God is essential. How do we begin to apply such knowledge to ourselves?
When this God of Abram gave to the Apostle Paul his letter to the Ephesian believers many years later, he wrote: “NOW, unto Him that is able to do EXCEEDING abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (3:20) For the believer to truly believe God to fulfill such a possibility and promise, he must first have a vision of God that is very great. This is why the Apostle begins his letter by writing: “…Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HAS blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.” (1:3) Here is the vision of the Almighty God who has, not only placed the believer in living union with Christ, but in doing so, has blessed him with everything in Christ, lacking nothing. It is as faith lays hold upon God according to the vision, that His power becomes operative in the life. The “exceeding abundantly” becomes blessedly possible because there is a vision of God, and then, corresponding faith to believe God fully for the fulfillment of His promises and purposes.
Returning to Abram, we see that God gave him more than a vision of Himself. He gave him a charge, a command to responsibly act in a certain way: “Walk before Me, and be perfect.” Again, why does God speak to Abram in this manner? If Abram is to be entrusted with such a vision of the glorious, and Almighty God, accompanied by great and precious promises, then he must enter this covenant with God to walk before Him alone, and supremely. There must be the entire commitment, and devotion, to Christ. This is the only true, right and honorable response to such a revelation. Singular devotion to believe and obey God with the whole heart…this is the great calling of God to Abram, in order for Him to accomplish fully His promises towards him.
In Zechariah’s day, the “angel of the Lord” gave a charge to Joshua the high priest: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will WALK in My ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge My house, and shall keep My courts…” (3:6,7) God revealed Himself to Joshua as, “…the Lord of hosts.” The just and right response to such revelation, along with the confirmed cleansing from sin, was: ” WALK in My ways…KEEP My charge.”
Dear Father, give us daily a clear vision of Yourself in Your glory. Give us grace to respond to You by walking before You, with a whole heart, by the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad