“Look unto Abraham your father, and to Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” Isaiah 51:2
Dear Ones:
How important is a name? The answer to that question really lies in only one source…God. Why? As the Creator has made every individual, so has He placed a worth, and value, upon every life that is uniquely Divine. It is a worth that exceeds what man could ever attribute to men, regardless of their gifts, calling, or stature in life. The depth of that worth, or value, can only be measured by the price that was paid to purchase it out of slavery to our mortal enemy, Satan, and the slave market of sin. The soul is priceless. We cannot grasp the dimensions of the soul’s worth, and the love of God that He has set upon it. The worth of a soul is associated with a name, the name of the individual whom God has created. It is by that name, unless the Lord changes it, that God will deal with the soul. It is an individual name associated with an unique person, possessing a calling of God, an eternal purpose, and gifts and grace to fulfill that purpose. Such was the case of Abraham, and Sarah, his wife. Unique, and singular in their time, their worth will only be revealed in eternity, as the effect of their lives and faith would span thousands of years, touching all nations of this earth, even in this day. Where did this blessing begin, and how did God bring it about? It began with the revelation of God to an individual with a personal name.
In the history of Israel, like it is today, there was a time of great diversion, and distraction, with regard to true faith in God, and His working according to that faith. In such times, individuals as well as nations, need to know where to look to find the truth, and a firm footing in the midst of great change, and the shifting sand of circumstances. This “salient feature” is often that of a name, a name which represents that point where one can look and certainly find rock beneath, and light from above. God told Israel, at a time of great upheaval, and change, that the people were to look to Abraham and Sarah. Why? It was primarily because of a singular call and blessing. We find where God called Abraham ALONE. This particular calling was associated with only one person who was called Abram.. Sarah also was called ALONE, but her calling was different. However, both shared the unifying fundamental experience of the exercise of true faith in the true and only God. God would go further in speaking of Abraham as one called individually. He said that he “…blessed him, and increased him.” (Is. 51:2) Herein lies the forethought, and divine purpose of God, for He reveals through the lives of Abraham and Sarah, that He IS their God, to be sought, known, trusted, and followed. The “blessing” of which He spoke is one that is primarily spiritual, and eternal, for out of the lineage of Abraham, would be born the Christ, the Savior of the World. The “increase” of which He spoke most certainly applied in part to that blessing that would be world wide, unto the uttermost parts of the earth, which is revealed in the book of the Revelation, “…every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.” (5:9) But how does the knowledge of a Abraham and Sarah, and their faith, apply to us individually today?
In John’s gospel, when Jesus was speaking of the difference between His sheep and those who were not, He said, “…the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out.” (Jn. 10:3) Note that Jesus knows the individual name of His sheep. He leads them because He calls them specifically, with that same spiritual blessing of Abraham. The calling and the blessing are both singular, beyond what we could ask or think, and yet, revealed by the personal, individual, singular trust in Christ.
Dear Father, Give us abundant grace to follow Thy way of faith fully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad