Chronological Reading Plan for Jan 16

Today's readings are Genesis 12-15. Tomorrow's are Gen 16-18. 

The chronological story line moves from Noah and Job, two men who were blameless but imperfect, the best among men but still in need of refining, to another man, Abram. 

What we have established, so far, is that there are no truly righteous men. There are good men but no one is fit or righteous enough to be in an intimate relationship with a holy and pure God. Adam fell and that original garden relationship was severed. Yet, even then, there was a promise of redemption and restoration (Gen 3:15). How would that be accomplished? Noah was spared but stumbled soon after. Job's suffering and lament made it clear that man was unable to rescue himself and restore the relationship. It would be up to God to implement a plan of redemption. Abram is the beginning of that plan. 

Who was Abram? We don't know much about him. There doesn't seem to be much to distinguish him from other men. He doesn't seem to have any outstanding qualifications. As a matter of act, he has a few major hindrances. He is older in age. His wife is barren and aged as well. But, Abram is from Haran, the area where Shem settled, and was one of Shem's direct descendants.  God had made a promise to bless Shem. We see that promise being fulfilled in Abram. 

But Shem had many descendants. Why choose Abram? Perhaps it has something to do with Abram's situation. God calls this old man who is the father of no one, to be the father of nations. He tells Abram to go to a land that is not his and it will be given to him. Everything God tells Abram is impossible and improbable. If any of it is to happen, it will have to be by supernatural power and authority. God chooses Abram because Abram is incapable of doing any of this on his own. If it is to be done, Abram, those around him and those who read about him will have no alternative other than to give God the glory. 

Abram leaves his home and travels. 

Along the way, we see Abram has his own struggles. He is another good but imperfect man, like Adam, like Noah, like Job. Still, God has chosen Abram to be the one from whom His chosen people will come. God redeems, transforms and equips. We see it all played out in Abram's incerdible story. 

There's more. We see hints of godliness in Abram.  as one wh graciously rescues his nephew, Lot in Gen 14, even though Lot took the good land of the Jordan Valley for himself and left the highland for Abram (Gen 13:8-13). Lot wanted to good land not thinking it would also be desirable to other tribes and countries. When they came storming in, Lot was unable to rescue himself (sound familair?) He needed help he did not earn nor was he worthy of. Abram, in an act of grace, rescues Lot. Abram is not the perfect redeemer. But he models the One who is. 

As a result of Abram's expression of grace, he receives a reward, another biblical pattern. Godly behavior and reflection is rewarded. Abram honors then receives a blessing from Melchizedek, the priest and king of Salem, which will eventually become Jerusalem. Much later, we will hear that Jesus Christ is a high priest on the order of Melchizedek. 

We know God is a God of covenant from Noah, the ark and the rainbow (Gen 6, 9). God forms a covenant with Abram in Gen 15. This is a covenant of blood and sacrifice. It comes in the form of a vision. Abram's vision is a significant one. The smoking fire pot and flaming torch he sees moving between the sacrifices are symbols of the presence of God. The pot and torch symbolize the initiation and completion of the covenant. What it all means is this, it is God who establishes the covenant and God who ratifies it. God has authored the covenant and God will carry it out. Abram is the recipient of the blessing but it is God who will accomplish the work of the covenant. 

This is God's plan to restore His people back into an intimate relationship with Him. He chooses Abram, an unqualified and incapable man, imperfect in many ways. Abram, and his offspring will be the recipient of His blessing while God will do the work of redemption and restoration. All this is a model for the work of Christ in His church and in His people. We are saved by the hand of God, moving sovereignly through history and through our lives. Abram is the template for how God saves us.