We continue today with part 2 of our series, “Vision Quest – Learning From Men Of Faith”. Today’s man of vision is Abram. I invite you to join me in Genesis 12:1-5:
Then the Lord told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people who had joined his household at Haran—and finally arrived in Canaan.
As we read this passage, the narrative seems straightforward enough, but when you stop and examine all that really took place here, it’s quite astonishing. First of all, let’s put this story in its proper context. Last Time we studied the man Noah and the vision God gave him to preserve mankind. God had chosen to flood the earth in an effort to wipe out the existing population due to its extreme perversion and sinful inclination.
So, God instructs Noah, the sole remaining worshipper of Jehovah, to build an ark. Noah obeys and mankind is preserved through Noah and his sons. However, as is man’s tendency, it isn’t long before things start getting out of control. The population is speaking a common language and has centered its civilization in a rather small and fertile plain know as Shinar. In their pride as a people, they decide to build a tower into the heavens.
God responds to this situation by confusing the languages of all the people so that they disperse from the plain of Shinar to different regions of the land. We find that Noah’s three sons go in different directions and from the line of Shem, Abram is eventually born. But what we must bear in mind is that mankind, at this point, has already become predisposed to rejecting their Creator. Scripture tells us that Abram’s father, Terah, was a worshipper of pagan gods.
Why is this significant? Because it is out of this background that God calls Abram to follow Him. Isn’t it amazing that a man born and raised in a culture of pagan religions and worship, hears the voice of God and responds by obeying God’s command? So here is Abram, he receives God’s Vision, and steps out in faith.
Faith. It is the foundation upon which our entire belief system is based isn’t it? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6: So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Now isn’t this precisely what Abram did! It’s utterly amazing! A man, who prior to God’s calling, probably never even heard the word “Jehovah” spoken, much less worshipped, should choose to believe there was a true God in heaven, and more than that, choose to obey and follow that God. Abram believed that there was a true God and when that God spoke to him, he responded out of faith.
God called him out of Ur and into the land of Canaan. Along the way God gave this sojourner much encouragement. They finally reach Canaan and travel through this region to a place named Shechem. Listen to the account: Genesis 12:6-7: Traveling through Canaan, they came to a place near Shechem and set up camp beside the oak at Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.
God gave Abram a vision, “I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you."
What an amazing vision! Think about it. Through you Abram, I will bless all the families of the earth. I mean, what do you say to something like that?
This vision sustains Abram as he and his family of probably close to 1000 individuals travel several hundred miles into the wilderness. Having established camp beside the oak at Moreh, the Lord decides to encourage Abram once more. Here God promises to give the land of Canaan to Abram’s offspring. Now watch how Abram responds… he builds an altar to the Lord. What are altars used for? Worship. Fascinating isn’t it? Bear in mind that Abram has taken significant steps of faith toward God, but we still aren’t told that Abram has been declared righteous. Despite this, Abram is starting to give God worth, which is where we get our word for worship. …
