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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (7-1-1996 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
The story of Abraham marks a new
departure in the book of Genesis. The first ten chapters give a picture of the
human race in general, and then in chapter eleven the spotlight falls on one
man, his family, and the nation which emerges from that family. And from that
family and nation, the Saviour of the world, in His humanity, came. Jesus
Christ.. the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). Those who believe are children
of Abraham (Galatians 3:7).
In the Old and the New
Testaments, Abraham is of unique and outstanding importance, second only to
Christ. True religion and right relationship with God through His grace by faith
fully begins with Abraham. The story of redemption begins with God’s call of
Abraham. It is the foundation of all that follows. He was the father of many
nations, both physically and spiritually. Physically he was the father of the
Jewish people through Isaac. He was also the father of many Arab tribes through
his son Ishmael. Spiritually he is the father of the host of believers, both
Jews and also Christians, of countless tongues and nations.
In Romans 4 Abraham is seen as an illustration of justification by faith. In Galatians 3 & 4, Abraham’s life proves that salvation is apart from works. In Hebrews 11 Abraham is an example of living a life of faith. Although a unique character, and lynchpin in God’s redeeming purposes, there is much to be learned from him. He is the first great Bible personality to come near and close to us. His call and obedience are ours. We find an echo in our own lives of his failures and weaknesses. But always God’s love surrounds him, and God’s mercy draws him back to the place of blessing.
Although Abraham lived 2000 years before Christ, there is
much in the story of his call which speaks directly to us. We first meet Abraham
in Ur of the Chaldees. Ur was the London or New York of that day. It was once a
great port on the Persian Gulf (though it is now 150 miles inland because the
gulf has silted up), and was wealthy, prosperous, and on many trade routes from
all over the known world. This was reflected in its culture, legal system,
knowledge of medicine and architecture. But it was in utter darkness
spiritually. Idols of at least 300 different gods were there, and religious
practices were utterly corrupt, degrading and revolting.
Joshua reminded Israel of its
pagan past. Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the Euphrates.. and they
served other gods. And I took your father Abraham and led him (Joshua
24:2,3,14). It is clear therefore that Abraham and his family were steeped in
the idolatry and paganism of the place. He was in darkness and ignorance, with
nothing to commend him. Then God took the initiative. The God of glory
appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia. ‘Leave your
country and your people and go to the land I will show you’ (Acts 7:2,3).
Abraham got as far as Haran,
delayed until his father had died, and then he received a second call, and was
told to go to Canaan. So the call of God came to a pagan idolater, and it was
the basis of choice of the Jewish nation through whom the Saviour of the world
was born. Why? There was nothing to commend Abraham. God acted in sheer grace. The
Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more
numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all people. But it was
because the Lord loved you (Deuteronomy 7:7,8).
This is the way God has dealt
with us. We had no time for Him, resisted Him, were far from Him, indifferent to
Him. But He broke into our lives and called us. He spoke to us personally; He
addressed our need and condition, and drew us to His Son. Left to ourselves, we
would still be in the world. When we have disobeyed, or delayed, He has called
us again, like He did to Abraham at Haran. Remember that Jonah also had to be
called a second time (Jonah 3:1), and Peter too, after his abysmal failure (John
21:15ff).
God persists in His calling. His
word comes once, twice, a hundred times, summoning us, leading us on, prodding
us when we become careless and lazy. Again and again God calls. The human mind
cannot grasp this divine initiative in salvation based on God’s election. But
it is a reality. It reminds is salvation comes from the Lord (Jonah 2:9).
We should be overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude that the God who commanded
light to shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us
the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2
Corinthians 4:6). Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure (Matthew
11:26).
We need never despair of the future, when we think of the darkness and degradation of so many He has called and used. What He has done before, He can do again. We only need to look at the lives of people like Saul of Tarsus, John Bunyan, Martin Luther, and so many up-to-date testimonies. Those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:30).
What was involved in the call of God? Abraham was
accepted by God. He became His. Abraham’s past was forgiven and cleansed. He
became entirely the Lord’s. He had to leave his country and family, all he
cherished and loved. His future was entirely in God’s hands. He did not know
where God would take him. He simply had to trust God, in darkness and light,
through thick and thin. It was costly for him, and hard in many ways. But the
Lord had claimed him, and that more than compensated for the cost. Abraham was
in God’s care and under His smile. That gave him security, peace of mind, and
freedom from care.
What was true for Abraham is
true for believers morally and spiritually. We are not necessarily called to
leave our home and daily tasks – though this might be true for some. But there
is a separation in an inward sense. When God comes and calls us, He does not
just forgive and save, but our life becomes His. He claims our life to be
entirely His. This man is my chose instrument (Acts 9:15). We have new
direction to life, called to separate from the world. Come out from among
them and be separate, says the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:17).
We are not to become physically
separate, like monks. We can remain in the home, daily work, street. But now we
are the Lord’s, we detach ourselves from the world in the way we think and
speak, and in our values and standards. In the street we are swimming with the
stream, but when we are the Lord’s we are swimming against the stream. Some
find this means losing company of the vast majority, and becoming part of a
small minority. We are pilgrims and strangers (1 Peter 2:11). We do not
belong, we are just passing through. In the world, but not of the world (John
17:15).
There is no doubt that this
underlines the costliness of being the Lord’s. This is why Jesus urged his
would-be followers to count the cost (Luke 14:25-28). They would have to make a
break between those who were nearest and dearest, they would be lonely, their
friends would suddenly become enemies, and the esteem and approval of others
would be exchanged for hostility and ridicule. Yet it is vital to maintain this
attitude, if we are going to do any good. This does not mean acting superior, or
smug, or contemptuously. But being aware that loyalties, motives and values are
quite different, now that we are His. Those who try to keep in with the world
show that they are not really different, and they get nowhere.
The world expects us to be different (and respects us behind our backs). This is the only way to show them now great is their need and far they are from God. Else they will say, what is the point? Where is the difference? Why not carry on as I am? The detached life, life separated to the Lord, has the biggest impact and strongest testimony to the world. The separate heart and walk impresses men with reality of the unseen world far more powerfully than the most eloquent sermon.
Having mentioned the cost to
Abraham, we must immediately emphasize the compensation which followed. God is
no man’s debtor. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make
your name great. You shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and
I will curse those who curse you. And in you shall all the families of the earth
be blessed (Genesis 12:1,2). The fact of God’s blessing is constantly
emphasized in the narrative. At the end of his life, The Lord had blessed him
in all things (Genesis 24:1). He was given the unique title in the Old
Testament, Friend of God (Isaiah 41:8); such was the intimacy of his
relationship with God. In loneliness, he was cast on God, and therefore his
faith grew strong and he realized the promises of God at first hand. When
earthly props fell away, he knew God in the closest relationship. God sustained
him in his trials and troubles. The blessing came to his home, neighbours, and
the world.
God can always use a life which
is entirely His. This lesson is for us. Obedience brings blessing. Blessing
first in our souls. We may be lonely, but we are never really alone, because the
Lord’s presence brings us peace. We discover the joy of being at the centre of
God’s will. We become a blessing to others, through our example to others, our
prayers, and our life lived doing good to others.
We will never fully realize in
this life how extensive our influence is, and also how much we are influencing
for good people not yet born. “Live so as to be missed” (Robert Murray
McCheyne). Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on his
faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of
your heart (Psalm 37:3). Our
personal consecration to the Lord will bring enormous influence to bear on
everything and everyone we touch. One of the rewards of reaching life’s summit
is to look back over the years, when we were struggling up the slope and could
not see the path ahead. But on reaching the top we can look back down the track
and see the purpose in it all. With the passing of years there emerges
conviction that perfect love and perfect wisdom join together to guide and plan
the life that is surrendered. The puzzles of unanswered prayers, long delays,
loss and suffering, apparently meaningless disappointment and injustice, show
themselves for what they are in the outworking of His plan.
The promises to Abraham, the life of Abraham, and such a testimony bid us to consecrate and reconsecrate ourselves to God. And warn us of the folly of holding back from Christ because of the costliness. God asked Abraham for himself and his complete and continuing devotion. And what God gave him was Himself, unstinting love, unfailing provision, and His warm friendship. The same privileges are ours.
And Abraham departed as the
Lord had spoken to him (Genesis 12:4). Abraham took God at His word, without
questioning and without hesitating. At first his obedience was partial, for he
delayed at Haran till his father’s death. But God continued to call and
Abraham finally arrived in the land of God’s choosing. He went out completely
alone, dependent on the bare word of the Lord. No doubt many called him a
fanatic or a fool, heading for disaster. But it was enough for Abraham that God
had promised blessing.
By faith Abraham, when he was
called… obeyed and he went out not knowing where he was going (Hebrews
11:8). Fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able to perform (Romans
4:21). He trusted God’s word, trusted God to plan his life, and trusted God to
lead him step by step. He was entirely in the dark about the future, but God’s
word was his guarantee that all would be well. He had no friends to lean on but
one – God Himself. His one guiding light was not a spirit of adventure,
material gain, family loyalty, but simply the will of God.
And God always proved He was absolutely dependable and trustworthy. The moment Abraham reached Canaan the Lord promised To your offspring I will give this land (Genesis 12:7). So obedience led to further light, revelation and assurance. Abraham’s response was to build an altar, and later another altar, and he called on the name of the Lord. He not only consecrated himself but also continually maintained his contact by worship. In each new place he openly acknowledged God, recognized His presence, gave Him his allegiance. His was a life of abiding communion with God. He called on the name of the Lord in private, family and public worship.
All through history there has been a little band
confessing they are pilgrims and strangers. They have followed the Lord wherever
He led them. Do you belong to that band? Have you heard God’s call?
Life is full of choices. God
calls us to Himself, to take possession of our lives. He will keep on calling us
to a life of blessedness. He wants our highest good in every trial and task. His
call is always to a richer and fuller life. He never fails to give abundant
recompense. He never requires what is not for our highest advance. He so governs
the world that disobedience is loss, and godliness is gain. There is always
abundant recompense.
As you go forward, do not worry if you only know one step ahead. You have a very good guide who will lead you to the end of the road. He will lead you to glory.
