The Calling Of God

“…for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” Isaiah 51:2

Dear Ones:

It was just after the Lord addressed Israel, in her seeking of Him, that He spoke to her to “…look unto the rock whence you are carved out, and to the hole of the pit where you were digged from.” (Is. 51:1)  Why?  Because Abram was a point of reference, an example, and a picture.  He was a point of reference where Israel could come back to, in order to realign herself with the way of God, that of faith.  He was an example also, in that he proved the faithfulness of God, and knew what it was to have the personal revelation of God to his heart.  And thirdly, he was a picture of a man with his faults, limits, even sin.  However, he was a man whom God could bless.  What was this blessing?  It was primarily spiritual, and had to do with the knowledge of God.  It was the revelation of the character, the nature of God, to his heart and mind, that was the basis of him trusting God.  Because of what he learned of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, he could specifically follow Him according to His word.  There is no other explanation for Abram, leaving where he was born and raised, to “…go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance…not knowing where he went.” (Heb. 11:8)  Where did this “voyage” of Abram begin, and how does this knowledge relate to the well-being of Israel, and our own?  It begins with the intervention of God, His CALLING…that personal revelation of God to Abram’s heart, which required a response of faith, and obedience.

We do not know all the reasons for which Abram, en route to the land of promise, stopped for a time in Haran.  It will be there that Terah, Abram’s father, would die.  We know that Terah was an idolater, and perhaps, for this reason the Lord would then reiterate to Abram:  “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” (Gen. 12:1)  God was determined to make of Abram a man of faith, but faith according to the truth.  At a time in Israel’s history, when she was called upon to again “seek the Lord,” because of her tendency to turn aside from Him, the Lord would bring before her Abram, this man who learned to put his trust ONLY in the God who had revealed Himself to him.  The true seeking of God is ALWAYS that act of pursuing Him in truth, according to revelation, that which IS true of Him…never according to tradition, or the vain philosophies of men.  What then was this call of God to Abram, this specific intervention of God in his life?

Scripture tells us that his calling was individual and personal, requiring faith and obedience.  “By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place…obeyed.” (Heb. 11:8)  We do not know exactly HOW God called Abraham, but we can be sure, as was the case with Moses, that the call was very clear, and Abram knew where it was coming from.  The second thing we need to see is that the call came at a point in Abram’s life when he was WILLING to hear, and respond.  Jesus told His disciples that, in order to know if something was truly of God, one would need to be willing to know. (Jn. 7:17)  Faith is much more than an intellectual exercise.  It is a commitment, a response of an engagement to believe and DO.  Abram KNEW that it was God who was revealing Himself to him.  Secondly, he discerned clearly the will of God in this matter.  So persuaded was he by his conviction, that we see what seems to be a large part of his family who came with him.  Lastly, we see that with the calling came a promise, one by which, “…all the families of the earth would be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3)

Dear Father, Make clear our individual calling, and strengthen us to follow in obedient faith.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love, Dad