The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:1–9)

How can I know God’s call on my life? What is my next step? Who should I marry?

We can learn a great deal about God’s call as we consider Abraham’s call. Abraham is a central figure in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the book of Genesis, his life spans twelve chapters. He is called a friend of God three times in the Bible (2 Chron 20:7; Isa 41:8; James 2:23), and he is referred to four times in the New Testament (Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and James). He is called the father of all those who believe (Gal 3:7), and he is considered the founder of three religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

God called Abraham many years after the flood in Genesis 6–8. The earth was so sinful that God destroyed it and started over with Noah’s family. However, even Noah’s descendants became sinful. In Genesis 11, his descendants gathered to build the Tower of Babel. They declared, “Let us make a name for ourselves.” Like Adam and Eve, and Satan before them, they became proud and wanted to bring glory to themselves instead of God. They decided to disobey God’s commission of moving throughout the earth and settling it. Instead, they decided to stay in one place and build a tower for their honor. Because of that, God confounded their speech and the people scattered.

Abraham’s call was very special. God called him out of a rebellious world to be a conduit for salvation. He is a pivotal character in redemptive history. As we study him, we will learn a great deal about living a life of faith (cf. Heb 11:8–19). But, specifically in this passage, we learn about God’s call. In this study, we will consider ten characteristics of God’s call on the life of a believer.

Big Question: What are characteristics of God’s call as discerned from the call of Abraham?

God’s Call Is a Call to Obey God’s Revelation

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)

Abraham’s call began with God speaking to him. We don’t know exactly how this happened. Maybe, God spoke to him through a fiery bush, through a cloud, a blinding light, or a soft whisper. We don’t know. But we do know that God made his will very clear to Abraham—he was to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household.

Many believers want to know God’s will. What is God’s will for my future? What major should I pursue? Who should I marry? What should I do next?

Everyone should understand a few important things about discerning and following God’s call. In one sense, there is a general call for all believers as revealed through God’s Word. God calls for all of us to make disciples, to daily spend time with him through his Word and prayer, to be involved with and serve a Bible preaching church, and to turn away from sin. These are aspects of God’s general call for all believers.

However, God also has a specific call for every believer—such as seen in God’s call for Abraham to leave his home and family to be a blessing to the world. A specific call deals with things that are not clearly revealed through his Word—such as who to marry, what job to take, and how to serve.

Interpretation Question: How can we discern our specific call or aspects of it?

Here are two things to remember about discerning our specific call:

1. To discern our specific call, we must apply principles found in Scripture.

For example, when a person is trying to figure out what career path to pursue, Scripture says that in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Prov 11:14). A wise person is going to get lots of advice from those who know more than him. Maybe, he will read books about that occupation or talk to people in it. Also, he would need to consider his own talents and desires. Scripture says, “God works in us to will and do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:12–13). If I am walking with God and obeying his Word, many times my desires are prompted and led by God. He also gives me the ability to do his will. If I lack the aptitude and skills in a certain area or an occupation, maybe that is not God’s call. For example, I know God is not calling me to be a chef—because I don’t have any cooking skills.

Similarly, when choosing a spouse, God gives clear principles in Scripture. One should not marry someone who is not walking with God. Second Corinthians 7:14 says we should not be yoked with unbelievers. For women, Scripture teaches about the type of man they should consider. Ephesians 5:25–27 says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church, washing her with the water of the Word of God. Women should look for a spiritual leader to marry. For men, Solomon’s mom in Proverbs 31 says, “A woman who fears the Lord should be praised” (v. 30). She declares how charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, and therefore, men should make their choice primarily based on a woman’s vibrant faith in the Lord.

In order to discern our specific call, we must apply the wisdom principles in Scripture. David said, “Your Word is a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet” (Ps 119:105). When we are not using the principles given in Scripture, we walk in the dark.

2. To discern our specific call, we must faithfully fulfill God’s general call.

Again, God has given a general call in Scripture for everyone to obey—like meditating on his Word day and night, sharing the gospel, using our spiritual gifts to serve the church, and turning away from sin. When we are faithful with what God has already revealed, he gives us more. Mark 4:24–25 says,

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Jesus said if we are faithful with what we hear from God (including our general call and specific call), then he gives us more. But those who do not obey, God takes away.

There are many Christians that cannot discern God’s will because they are disobedient to their general call. Instead, they experience a hardening of the heart and an inability to hear and discern God’s voice. Another example of this is in Romans 12:2. It says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

When we are not conforming to the pattern of the world, we will be able to test (Is this of God or not of God?) and approve (This is God!) his pleasing and perfect will. By being faithful to God’s general will, one can discern God’s specific will.

Are you faithfully following God’s revealed will so he can guide you in your calling?

Application Question: What are your thoughts about the necessity of fulfilling God’s general call in order to discern God’s specific call? In what ways have you seen or experienced an inability to discern God’s voice for lack of obeying God’s general will? What aspects of God’s specific call has the Lord already revealed to you?

God’s Call Is a Call of Sovereign Election

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)

Interpretation Question: Why did God call Abraham? What made him special?

The next thing we can discern about God’s call is that it is a call of sovereign election. Why did God call Abraham? Was he more holy than everybody else? Was he more faithful? No. It seems that Abraham worshiped pagan gods just like everybody else. He was from the land of Ur, in Mesopotamia, that was known for worshiping Nanna, the moon god.¹ Joshua declared that Abraham’s family members were idolaters. Joshua 24:2–3 says,

Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,

Abraham was from a family of idolaters. Some commentators, like F. B. Meyer, believe that Abraham, like Noah before him, was a faithful follower of God.² However, it seems that Abraham is included with the idolaters, as he was one of Israel’s “forefathers.” His call seems to be more like Paul’s. While Paul was on his way to persecute Christians, Christ appeared to him in a shining light and converted him (Acts 9). Like Paul, God stops Abraham right in the midst of his sin and calls him.

Abraham was an idolater. There was no special reason for God to call him. In fact, as we follow his story, we will watch him fail God many times. He lies about his wife twice and, at one point, marries another woman. He allows his wife, Sarah, to abuse his new, pregnant wife. He fails God in many ways.

What makes him special is God’s election. God chose him from among all the pagans to bestow special grace on him, and this grace was not just to bless Abraham but to bless the entire world through him. The messiah, Jesus Christ, eventually came through his lineage (cf. Matt 1:1–2).

Election is a theme taught throughout Scripture. Because God is King, he can do whatever he wants, but also since man is sinful and in total rebellion towards God, he must elect some to obedience and salvation. Consider what Paul said about man:

there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:11–12)

the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:7–8)

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

After sin entered the world, nobody seeks God anymore—at least not the God of the Bible. They have all gone their own way. The mind of man is so corrupted that he is hostile to God and cannot submit to his law. Man is so corrupt that the things of God are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them—apart from God’s Spirit.

The question then becomes, “How can man know God or respond to his call?” The answer is election. Man was so negatively affected by sin, God had to elect some to himself so that they might be saved.

This mystery is important not only to understand Abraham’s call, but also Jacob’s, Israel’s, Paul’s, and Christians’ in general. Consider what Paul said about Jacob:

Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Romans 9:11–13)

In the Jewish culture, the eldest received the inheritance. Therefore, Esau should have received his father’s inheritance and blessing. However, God chose Jacob, before he was even born, so that his purpose in election might stand. God said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Did God hate Esau? No, this refers to God’s election. God loved Jacob and hated Esau in the sense of who would receive his blessing.

What about the Israelites? Why did God choose Israel to be his nation of priests to the world? Was it because they were more obedient, more spiritual, or more faithful? Absolutely not. Deuteronomy 7:7–8 says,

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 peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

God chose them based on his sovereign right as King. They were chosen because of election.

What about all Christians—those with genuine saving faith in Christ? Scripture teaches their election as well. Ephesians 1:3–5 says,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

Paul tells us that we were chosen before the creation of the world and predestined to be God’s sons. Peter actually calls us “elect” in 1 Peter 1:1: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.” In the early church, elect became a common title for all born again believers.

Certainly, this is a controversial doctrine. Some would say if we were elected before time that means we do nothing for our salvation and are just robots. No, Scripture, at the same time, teaches that we must respond and accept the gospel; however, it also teaches that when we do this, it is only because of God’s grace. Humanity is so enslaved to their sinful nature, it is impossible for us to respond apart from grace (cf. Rom 8:7). That is why we must be elected. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Paul taught that the very faith that we demonstrate in our salvation is only a result of grace. We believed in Christ as our Lord and Savior because of grace, and we received this grace because of God’s election. This is a difficult doctrine, but unless we accept it, we will find ourselves confused at much of Scriptures’ teachings.

How can God show up and save a murderer like Paul and call him to be an apostle? It isn’t fair. Wouldn’t everybody become a Christian if Christ actually appeared to them and blinded them to prove it? This may be true, but this is proof of the doctrine we are considering. Paul was saved and called to be an apostle by election. He was elect. And it’s the same with Abraham. God showed up and called an idolater, a liar, and a future polygamist to be the father of those who believe because of election. This is also true for every Christian. Though God may not appear to us in a shining light or a burning bush, our salvation is no less magnificent. It is a work of amazing grace. It is a work of election. Salvation could not happen any other way.

And this also tells us something about God’s call on our lives. God’s call for one person will be different from another’s. One person will be called to be a missionary sent to live in poverty and give his life for the gospel, while another Christian will live prosperously in a wealthy city with no overt persecution. Why are things this way? God chooses one person for this and another person for that. It is his right as Sovereign—his right as King.

Consider Christ’s communication with Peter after telling him about his future death as a martyr:

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:20–22)

Peter was wondering about John, “How would he die?” Christ simply said, “‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” Because God is King, he does what he wants. He calls one person for this and another for that.

Interpretation Question: Why is it important to understand God’s election when considering one’s call?

1. Understanding election helps us trust God instead of being angry at him when we consider our situation or others’.

We may not fully understand his electing grace and sovereignty, but we must trust that he is good and perfect in all his ways. Only someone who is all-wise and all-good is suitable to be sovereign over all.

2. Understanding election helps us to be humble instead of prideful when God prospers us.

Abraham could look back and remember that he was an idolater that God called and saved by grace. Paul was a murderer—the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15, KJV). David was a shepherd—the least in his household and despised by Israel because of his occupation. Election reminds us of God’s grace—it keeps us humble.

3. Understanding election helps us worship God.

Consider Paul’s response to God’s election of Israel in Romans 11:28, 34–36:

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable… Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Are you still worshiping and trusting in our sovereign God? Only one who is all-good, all-wise, and all-powerful is worthy to be sovereign, and that’s our God. May he be glorified forever!

Application Question: What ways do you see election in Abraham’s call? Is the election of Abraham or anybody else fair? Why or why not? In what ways is God’s election an encouragement to you?

God’s Call Is Costly

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)

Observation Question: What did God call Abraham to do?

Another aspect of God’s call is that it is costly. Abraham was called to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household. Abraham probably lived in Ur his whole life until then. His friends, family, and contacts were there. His job was there. In order to follow God’s call, he needed to leave everything.

However, this is not only true of Abraham’s call but ours as well. Jesus said,

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9:23–25)

If anyone is going to follow Christ, he must deny himself and take up his cross. When Christ called to the rich man to follow him, he told him to sell everything (Matt 19). Riches would hinder his full devotion to the Lord, and therefore, he needed to let them go. The cost of God’s call includes denying the pleasures of sin and denying our will in order to submit to his. All these were included in Abraham’s call.

Some cannot discern and follow God’s call because they are not willing to sacrifice. They are not willing to give up career goals or leave family, home, and country. They are not willing to suffer and be uncomfortable. Some simply will not forsake sin. If we are going to follow Christ, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross.

God called the rich man to let go of his riches. He called the disciples to leave their careers. He called Abraham to leave his land, home, and family. What is God calling you to sacrifice in order to fulfill his call?

Application Question: In what ways have you had to sacrifice to follow God’s call? Are there any specific ways he is calling you to sacrifice now?

God’s Call Is a Call to Faith and Dependence

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)

Interpretation Question: In what ways was God calling Abraham to faith and dependence upon him?

Another aspect of Abraham’s call was that it included faith and dependence. God told him to leave everything and didn’t even tell him where to go. He just says, “Go to the land I will show you.” Can you imagine telling family and friends, “I’m leaving town.” They would say, “Where are you going?” You would respond, “I don’t know. I am just following God.” This wouldn’t make any sense. People would think you were mad. We can assume that is what people thought about Abraham. He was leaving for a land that God would show him.

Not only was this a life of faith because Abraham did not initially know the destination (cf. Gen 11:31), but also because he left much of his resources in Ur. By leaving his people and his father’s household, he left his security. The members of a household fought for one another in the case of raiders or war. Also, he left his job, house, culture, and many other securities. God was calling Abraham to a life of faith—a life of depending upon him.

Eventually, after Abraham left his country, God revealed where he was going. In Genesis 11:31, we see Abraham, with Terah and Lot, leaving for “Canaan.” This is true for us as well. Many times as we follow what God has revealed, he reveals the next step to us. This is the life of faith.

Our life of faith begins at salvation. God calls us to give up our striving for salvation through good works and to trust solely in Christ’s finished work. We still do good works, but as a result of salvation—not for salvation. Also, as Christians following God’s call, the Lord continually teaches us our insufficiency and his sufficiency. Essentially, he teaches us how to depend on him and live the life of faith.

Jesus said this in Matthew 18:1–4: He picked up a child (literally a small child, like an infant) and said, “Unless you become like this child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and he who becomes like this little child is greatest in the kingdom” (paraphrase). Christ taught that dependence (faith) was the door to salvation, and, at the same time, the pathway to maturity after salvation. The greatest in the kingdom is like a little child—totally dependent on God.

Many times God develops dependence by bringing us into trials that reveal our weakness. We start to realize that we are not strong enough or smart enough. We don’t have the right family background, education, or enough money. And yet, despite all these deficiencies, his grace is enough. God called Abraham to a life of faith, and God calls us to the same.

This, in fact, is one of the reasons why many won’t heed God’s call. “Rich Man, sell all your riches and depend on me alone!” This is very difficult. God sometimes calls a person to go to seminary and leave a good paying job. He calls another to leave the stability of family and country for missions. God will call you to serve in a ministry—many times, one you feel ill equipped for. God will constantly call you to depend on him and trust him more. In these times, he says that his grace is sufficient for you because his power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:6)—he is enough. The call of God is a call to faith. He says, “I will supply.”

There will be worries, fears, and obstacles to deter you from following God’s call. And for this reason, many don’t fulfill their calling. Israel didn’t enter the promised land because they feared “giants”. They knew that in their power, they were not capable of taking the land. They weren’t willing to put all their faith in God; therefore, they missed out. Sadly, this is true for most of us. God’s call is a call of faith—a call to do something impossible apart from God’s power to build his kingdom and glorify his name.

Are you willing to trust him? Are you willing to step out in faith to serve in a ministry or start a ministry—to do something for his glory and for others’ benefit? That is God’s call on your life—to depend on him and allow him to work through you. Are you ready?

Application Question: In what ways has God called you to step out of your comfort zone and learn to live by faith? How have you experienced his grace when stepping out in faith?

God’s Call Is a Call to Separation from the World and Sin

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)

Probably, part of the reason that Abraham needed to leave his country, family, and household was because of temptations associated with them. Ur, though a prosperous city, was full of idolatry and Abraham’s family worshiped idols. We even see that when Isaac, Abraham’s son, sent Jacob to find a wife from Abraham’s family, they still worshiped idols. In fact, Rachel, Jacob’s wife, brought some back to Canaan (cf. Gen 31:30–34). No, doubt God called Abraham to leave his family and country to separate him from those temptations.

This is our call as well. If we are going to follow Christ, we must turn away from sin and all temptations to sin. First Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” It can also be translated “flee” (Aramaic Bible in Plain English).³ In following God, Abraham needed to flee all appearance of evil and that included the pervasive sin in his family and country. Many Christians cannot fully follow Christ because they still want to hold onto sin and sinful relationships. Like the rich man, they want to keep their idols with them as they follow Christ. However, the Lord will not allow it. We can only have one master and that is God (Matt 6:24).

In fact, Christ calls us to daily get rid of sin. If our eye offends us, we should pluck it out. If our hand offends us, we should cut it off (Matt 5:29–30). We must do everything possible to be free from sin. Sometimes, we even need to leave certain surroundings because the temptations are too strong. That is what God called Abraham to do.

Interestingly, one of the things we notice with Abraham is that he did not fully obey God. He did not leave everything God commanded. He brought his father, Terah, with him and his nephew, Lot (cf. Gen 11:31). Because Terah was the family patriarch, no doubt, Abraham felt a responsibility to tell him about God’s call. In Genesis 11, the narrator tells us that when the family left Ur, Terah was actually leading the family. It says:

Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. (Genesis 11:31–32)

Abraham and Terah initially started traveling towards Canaan but then stopped in Haran. Scholars believe they stayed there for around fifteen years.⁴ Why did they stop? We can’t be sure, but we do know that Haran was a major center of worship for the Moon God—as Ur was.⁵ Maybe, Abraham could not get his father, Terah, to leave this famous center of idolatry, and therefore, he himself stayed there as well.

Sometimes, we can gain insight from Hebrew names. “Terah” means “delay” and “Haran” means “parched” or “dry.”⁶ Because Abraham sinned against God by bringing his father, it led to a delay in fulfilling God’s call. And, bringing Lot, as we will see later, led to conflict, eventual separation, and almost cost Abraham his life.

As we follow Christ, everything brought from the world will cause us delay and pain. Also, when we don’t follow Christ wholeheartedly, it ultimately leads to dryness in our spiritual lives. While Abraham was in Haran, no doubt, he experienced “Haran”—dryness in his relationship with God. We don’t see God speak to Abraham again until his father dies, and then, Abraham continues his journey to Canaan (cf. Gen 12:1–4).

This is true for many Christians. They have areas of disobedience in their lives keeping them from fulfilling God’s call and experiencing intimacy with him. They can’t hear his voice, discern his direction, or receive his comfort. Their spiritual life is dry. In general, we only experience God when faithfully walking with him and obeying him. In 2 Corinthians 6:17–18, Paul says:

“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

We can’t experience the Father’s intimacy or fulfill his call when partnering with the world and practicing sin. How often does this happen because Christians will not separate from the world in the music they listen to, the books they read, the movies they watch, and the relationships they foster? God’s call is a call to separation from the world and sin.

What is holding you back? What is causing spiritual delay in your life? Christ said that the way to life is a narrow road—you can’t take everything with you—and few find this road. However, the path to destruction is broad and many are on it (Matt 7:13–14). In order to fulfill God’s call, we must leave the world and sin behind. Will you leave it?

Application Question: Are there any ways God is calling you to leave behind the world and sin to fulfill your call? In what ways have you experienced “delay” and “dryness” in your life because of disobedience or partial obedience?

God’s Call Is Persistent

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)

Interpretation Question: How can we reconcile God’s call in Genesis 12:1 and what Stephen says about this call in Acts 7:2–4? Are these the same call?

Another aspect about God’s call to Abraham is its persistence. This was probably the second-time God called Abraham.⁷ Stephen tells us that God originally called Abraham while he was in Ur. Acts 7:2–4 says,

To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.

God called him while he was in Mesopotamia; however, Genesis 12:1–4 shows God calling Abraham in Haran after his father’s death. Genesis 12:4 says, “So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” In obedience to the second call, Abraham left Haran.

God’s first call to Abraham led to partial obedience. He brought his father, Terah, and nephew, Lot, and when they got to Haran, they stayed there around fifteen years.

One of the wonderful things about God is that he is persistent. Many times when he first calls people, they are not ready to fully obey. However, his grace continues after them, working in them to will and do of his good pleasure (Phil 2:12–13).

We get another picture of this persistent call in the story of Jonah. In Jonah chapter 1, God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah rebels and boards a ship going in the opposite direction. While sailing, God brought a great storm that forced his shipmates to throw Jonah into the sea in hope that God would spare them. In God’s mercy, he prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah to spare his life. Jonah’s disobedience led to God’s discipline, but even God’s discipline was full of mercy. After a few days, this great fish vomited Jonah up onto dry land. In Jonah 3:1, Jonah experienced God’s second call, it says: “Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time.”

Jonah 3:1 may be one of the sweetest verses in the Bible. When we fail God and choose to go our own way, God’s grace doesn’t forsake us but continues after us. Often, God is not only the God of second chances, but of third, fourth, and fifth chances as well.

With that said, this is not cheap grace. Disobedience is costly. Time is lost. We, and sometimes those around us, must face consequences. Jonah’s disobedience almost cost the people in the ship with him their lives. However, Jonah’s disobedience did not change God’s call on his life. God is persistent—his grace continues to seek after us.

To some extent, this was my own experience as well. I felt God’s call to preach at nine years old. However, I essentially told God, “No. Not yet.” I remember telling God that one day I would do whatever he wanted, but at the moment, I was just a kid and not ready yet. It was ten years later when God’s grace came to me again. I was nineteen, about to start my sophomore year in college. Through some difficult trials in my life, God softened my heart and prepared me to say, “Yes.” Whatever God’s will for my life was; I was ready to follow. At that point, I could say like Christ, “Not my will, but your will be done.”

With that said, even though God’s grace is persistent, if we turn God down, his grace may move to another. Saul was anointed King of Israel, but when he turned from God, God’s grace went and found another—David. Similarly, with Israel, it was God’s plan to bring them into the promised land, but after a great rebellion, God promised that generation would never enter the land. They died in the wilderness, and instead, God gave the land to their children.

Let this remind us that God’s grace will not persist forever. He will always forgive, as we confess and repent of our sins (1 John 1:9), but sometimes, we must settle for second best. After Israel’s rebellion, they wandered in the wilderness until they died. Sometimes our rebellion forfeits God’s original plan for our lives. It is possible to be disqualified. Paul said, “No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor 9:27).

How are you responding to God’s persistent grace? Scripture says it is God’s kindness that draws men to repentance (Rom 2:4). Let his persistent grace bring you to repentance, so that you can fulfill God’s call on your life. But, also let us be warned, “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). We are not guaranteed tomorrow, and his grace may not persist in the same manner as today. Let us faithfully respond to God’s persistent and loving grace for this is our reasonable act of worship (Rom 12:1).

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s persistent grace? Do you agree that sometimes because of rebellion, God’s call moves to others, and we have to settle for second best?

God’s Call Includes Great Promises for Those Who Obey

“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2–3)

In addition, God’s call comes with many great promises. When God calls us or moves in our lives, many times he doesn’t give us reasons or calm the waves of our curiosity. He may not answer questions like, “Why?” or “What for?” Sometimes he doesn’t even tell us “Where?” or “How?” but he always gives us promises.

In Scripture, God gives conditional and unconditional promises. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is an unconditional promise. “Give and it shall be given unto you” is a conditional promise. With Abraham, God seems to give a conditional promise that later becomes unconditional (cf. Gen 15). God says to him “Leave … I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.” All of Abraham’s promises were based on his obedience to God.

As we consider these promises, they have specific applications to our call and walk of faith.

Observation Question: What promises did God give Abraham?

1. God promised to give Abraham a land.

“Go to the land I will show you”

This promise is later expanded. In Genesis 12:7, God says, “‘To your offspring I will give this land.’” God promised to give his offspring the land of Canaan.

However, it must be known that God’s promise of a land was not just earthly—it was also heavenly. The writer of Hebrews says:

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8–10)

Abraham never received the land while living in it. He always lived as a foreigner in tents. However, his true hope was in a heavenly city—of which Canaan was a type.

This should be true for us as well. Yes, God has a call for us on the earth including a territory or ministry for us to spread his name and fame. It may be to a group of people, a city, or a nation, and as we are obedient, God opens the door to that ministry and blesses it. However, our primary call is heavenly. We must never let our earthly call—or successes or disappointments that come with it—dim the great call that we have in heaven. It must be our primary pursuit and endeavor (cf. Matt 6:20).

Application Question: Has God shown you a land or a ministry he wants you to focus on? How has God called you to be faithful in this area?

2. God promised to make Abraham a great nation.

“I will make you into a great nation”

At the time Abraham received this promise, he was childless. His original name Abram meant “exalted father” while his later name, Abraham, meant “father of a multitude.”⁸

In that culture, it was shameful to not have any children. You can imagine the snickers that came every time Abram introduced himself: “What’s your name?” “My name is Abram.” “Really, how many kids do you have?” “None.” “Oh?” Abraham and his wife bore great shame and burden because of this reality. Obviously, it was always their hope to raise children.

Here, God promises to remove that shame and not only give them a child but to bring a great nation from him. This nation would be the nation of Israel. It was to Israel that God gave his covenant and his laws. He dwelt among them in the tabernacle and later the temple. It was through this nation that the messiah would come and bless the entire world. The nation of Israel is truly a great nation because of the spiritual lineage that came through them.

In addition, Scripture teaches that the church also came through Abraham. Again, Galatians 3:7 says that we are “children of Abraham” because of our belief. He is the father of all who believe in God. It is through him and his lineage that God chose to bring redemption.

In a sense this promise is true about us and our callings as well. God’s desire is for us to have children—specifically spiritual children. In 1 John 2:12–14, John writes to fathers, sons, and children. Each believer is in one of these stages, but God’s will is for all of us to become fathers and mothers. This means that we are giving birth—leading people to Christ and discipling them. God’s call for us is also to raise up a nation of people who love and follow him.

Are you willing to allow God to raise spiritual children through you? Most miss out on this part of their call by staying in spiritual immaturity.

Application Question: Why is it important for people in the church to mature into spiritual parenthood? What happens when believers never mature (cf. 1 Cor 3:1–3)?

3. God promised to bless him.

“and I will bless you”

The word “bless” is a rich word. It can be translated “happy.” God’s blessing brings joy in the life of a person—no matter the circumstances. Blessing has to do with approval. When a man wants to marry a woman, he gets her father’s “blessing”—meaning his approval. Abraham would be approved by God for his obedience. But, it also has the connotation of favor. God was going to place his favor on Abraham’s life, as we see throughout his story. God prospers him with wealth; he gives him a baby when he and his wife were past childbearing age. The greatest blessing was obviously God’s presence. God would speak with Abraham and visit his house (Gen 18). Scripture calls Abraham God’s friend (James 2:23).

This is true for us as well. Faithful obedience brings God’s blessing on our lives. In fact, we see a similar promise in Psalm 1:1–3. God blesses the man who stays away from the path of the wicked (even as Abraham left his idolatrous home and country) and who delights in God’s law—therefore, meditating on it day and night. God promises to prosper everything he does.

Abraham was a man who obeyed God and received his blessing. Will you obey God and receive his blessings as well? Many forfeit God’s blessing by living in compromise and disobedience.

Application Question: What types of blessings have you received as a result of obedience to God? How have you experienced his discipline for not being obedient?

4. God promised to make his name great.

“I will make your name great”

This must stand out in the context. Genesis chapter 11 tells the story of how people sought to make their own name great. They cried out and said, “‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth’” (Gen 11:4). With the tower of Babel, people tried to make a name for themselves, and God shattered their ambitions by confusing their languages.

However, in Abraham’s case, God says, “I will make your name great.” While Abraham lived in the land, he became very wealthy and was treated as a “great prince” by the Canaanites (cf. Gen 23:6). And, his name is still revered today. Abraham is exalted in the three great religions. He is revered by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. His name is truly great.

In fact, the very first temptation of man was to be like God—to have his glory. Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of Knowledge to be like God, and God disciplined them. However, Abraham was not seeking his own glory, and God promised to exalt him.

This principle is still at work today. The world avidly pursues greatness. Each person pursues a name for him or herself through education, wealth, strength, or popularity. Similarly, each religion teaches people to try to save themselves through good works. However, God opposes the proud and exalts the humble (James 4:6). He rejects those who come to him based on their works, but accepts those who come to him like children—not trusting in their own works but trusting in the work of Jesus (cf. Matt 18:2–3; Rom 4:5).

He rejects those who fight to gain the world, and he gives the world and all its riches to the meek (Matt 5:5)—those who will not fight for their rights. Those who come to him in faith like Abraham, God calls “co-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17). The world and the heavens will be theirs. Yes, in a sense their names are truly great because their names will be forever associated with God, and God will exalt them. They will be married to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords throughout eternity (cf. Rev 19).

Are you trying to make your name great? If you are seeking to exalt yourself, you shall be humbled. But if you humble yourself and seek the Lord, you will be exalted.

David said to God, “I will make you a house,” but God responded, “No, I will make you a house and I will give you a name like the greatest men on the earth” (1 Chr 17). Those who humble themselves and pursue God’s will and not their own, God exalts. First Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Certainly, this is what we saw in Christ. He humbled himself to the lowest of the low in order to serve God and others, and God gave him a name above every name (Phil 2:5–11).

If we humble ourselves by obeying God, he promises to exalt us, not only on the earth but throughout eternity (cf. James 4:6). Are you willing to humble yourself and seek his will instead of your own?

Application Question: Why is it so hard to seek God’s glory over our own? Why is it natural for man to seek his own glory, apart from God?

5. God promised to make him a blessing.

“…and you will be a blessing”

It must be noted that God blessed Abraham not primarily for his enjoyment but so he could be a blessing to many. Abraham blessed those in Canaan. Early on, he wins a battle against the kings of the east who formerly oppressed the kings of Canaan, and then, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, blesses him for it (Gen 14). Abraham blessed the Canaanites. But, ultimately, he blessed them by being a witness of the living God.

Psalm 1:3 describes the man who is blessed by God as a tree that produces fruit in season. A tree does not bear fruit for itself. We never see apple trees eat their own fruit. God made trees to bless others.

In the same way, God prospers the obedient. He blesses them so that they can bless others. During their trials, he strengthens and delivers them so they can strengthen and help deliver others. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, Paul says he “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

In addition, God often blesses the obedient financially so they can be channels of his blessing. He pours out financial blessings into their lives so that they can be poured into the kingdom of God. Second Corinthians 9:10 says this about those who are obedient givers: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” Similarly, Psalm 37:25–26 says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.”

God blesses the obedient so they can be generous and lend freely. They widely distribute not only financial seed but spiritual seed in order to bless people. Are you willing to obey God and receive his blessings, so you can bless others?

Application Question: How have you experienced God using you more when you faithfully obey him? How have you experienced times of a loss of God’s blessing and usefulness because of unfaithfulness?

6. God promises to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him.

“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse”

God also promises to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him. We see this several times in Abraham’s narrative. When he goes down to Egypt, Pharaoh takes Sarah as his wife, and God curses Pharaoh’s household with sickness. Afterward, Pharaoh gives Abraham his wife back along with great wealth (Gen 12). Similarly, when Abimelech takes Sarah as a wife, God cursed him (Gen 20). Then Abraham’s wife was returned along with wealth once again. God always protected Abraham (cf. Gen 15:1). He blessed those who blessed him and cursed those who cursed him. It also seems that this promise was passed on to Israel—Abraham’s children (cf. Num 24:9b).

With that said, we see this general promise reiterated throughout Scripture to those who faithfully obey God. Jesus said people should be careful of how they treat his little ones—those who believe in him. If we offend them, it would be better for a millstone to be put around their neck and for them to be tossed into the sea (Mark 9:42). He also said in Matthew 18:10 to not look down on them for their angels always see the face of God. Their guardian angels are always ready to move at God’s command on behalf of them. Similarly, Romans 12:19 says to believers, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” In considering God’s blessings, Scripture says that even a bottle of water given to one of his people will be rewarded (Matt 10:42).

As we follow God’s call, he promises to bless those who bless us and curse those who curse us.

Application Question: How should God’s promise to bless or curse those who hurt his children affect how we treat other believers? How should it affect how we look at ourselves?

7. God promised that all the people of the earth would be blessed through him.

“and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

This is the most precious promise given to Abraham, and it is a key verse in redemptive history. God promised to bless all the people of the earth through Abraham. How would God do this? The primary way was by sending the messiah, Jesus Christ, through Abraham’s lineage. The messiah would be both divine and human. He would die for the sins of the world and rise from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ is a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. This is true because he is the only way to salvation. There is no other way for people to have eternal life except through him. Christ said this, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father but through me” (John 14:6).

Certainly, this should be true about us in one sense as well. God’s call for us is to share the messiah with others. This is done directly through the gospel and indirectly by living the gospel.

First Peter 2:12 says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” The reason pagans will glorify God on the day of the Lord is because they came to know Christ through us. This is part of God’s call on every believer’s life.

As we consider the seven promises given to Abraham, we must remember that God also gave us many great promises. By one person’s count, the Bible contains over 3,000 promises. Second Peter 1:3–4 says,

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

God gave us great and precious promises through which we can participate in the divine nature and escape the world’s corruption. Essentially, this means that the promises in Scripture are given to make us holy and deliver us from sin.

Sadly, many Christians do not drink deeply from these promises. While Abraham was in Canaan being tempted to be like those around him, he had to remember the great promises God gave him. It would help him to faithfully follow God and be the person God called him to be. In the same way, God gave us many great and precious promises which apply to our calling as well. We should memorize them, quote them, and cling to them, especially when tempted or in trial.

Application Question: What are some of these great promises God has given to help guide us in our callings?

Consider these promises:

Proverbs 3:6 says, “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” God promises to give direction to the person who puts him first and seeks to glorify him in everything.

Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” God promises that if we truly hunger for righteousness—to know the Word of God, to see souls saved, to get rid of sin in our lives and become more holy—he will give it to us. The question really is, “Do we really hunger for righteousness?”

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” God promises that if we seek first the kingdom and his righteousness that he will always meet our needs. Many people seek their needs first and, therefore, find themselves impoverished and in lack.

Second Corinthians 9:6–8 says,

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

God promises that he will abundantly bless the giver. He will never lack and will have grace for every good work. Are you allowing yourself to be a channel of God’s blessing?

In considering our call, God may not tell us where, who, or how. But he does give us promises to help along the way, and many of these promises are conditional—coming after our obedience. God’s call is full of promises for those who obey. Are you obeying?

Application Question: What are your favorite promises in the Bible and how do they help you to fulfill God’s call?

God’s Call Is a Call to Pilgrimage

Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:6–9)

Interpretation Question: Throughout Abraham’s narrative we commonly see him and his family in tents. What can we learn about God’s call through this?

Another aspect of God’s calling on Abraham’s life and also on ours is a calling to pilgrimage. We see this in Abraham’s life as he goes to the promised land and lives in tents. In fact, the only land that Abraham owned while in the land was his wife’s grave site (Gen 23). Even though he became wealthy, he lived and dwelled in tents as a foreigner in the land. Hebrews 11:9–10 says this about Abraham:

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

This is true for us today. We are pilgrims. This does not mean that we are wanderers. A pilgrim is not a wanderer. A pilgrim is person on a journey seeking a land. America was settled by pilgrims who left their home country seeking a land where they could have religious freedom. In the same way, Christians are pilgrims in the world today. The world is not our home, and like Abraham, we should not settle down in it.

We see this pilgrim analogy used throughout Scripture. Consider how Peter used it in his epistle: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Pet 2:11, KJV). In 1 Peter, these Christians were forced to leave their homes and land because of Roman persecution. It was clear to them that earth was not their home and that they were called to live for another land—a heavenly one.

Application Question: What are some applications we can take from the fact that like Abraham, we are called to be pilgrims on this earth?

1. As pilgrims on this earth, we should not store up treasures on this earth but instead store them up in heaven.

Christ said this in Matthew 6:19–21:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Christ said that we should not store up treasures on this earth but, instead, store them up in heaven. When I go to a hotel, I don’t spend a lot of time trying to make the place very home-like. I don’t buy new curtains, covers, or a stereo system. Why? Because my stay at the hotel is temporary. Christ uses similar logic. He says that the treasures of this earth will be destroyed by moth and rust—they are temporary. Our life is but a breath here. We must spend our lives focused on the eternal. Therefore, as Christians, our lives and belongings should look very different from the world because we are not storing up our treasures on this earth. We are simply preparing and waiting for our eternal home. We are pilgrims. Abraham lived this way, even though he was wealthy, because heaven was his ultimate home.

2. As pilgrims on this earth, we will never feel completely comfortable.

If we are truly pilgrims and this is not our home, then we will never completely feel comfortable here. How can we feel comfortable with the temporary if we were made for the eternal? How can we feel comfortable in a sin infested society if we were made to live and dwell in righteousness? How can we feel comfortable in a loveless society, when we were made to dwell in perfect love?

As pilgrims, we will constantly feel dissatisfaction with life and the world as it is. Paul the apostle described it this way in Romans 8:22–23:

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

We, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, grown inwardly. This is not a groaning that the world can have, it is only a groaning that true Christians have. We groan for the redemption of our bodies. We long to be free of sin and to be satisfied with righteousness (cf. Rom 7:14–25). This is a groaning that is particular to pilgrims. In this world, we will never be completely comfortable; it is not our home. Second Corinthians 5:2 says, “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.”

Similarly, C. S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world” (Mere Christianity). Personally, I often find a dissatisfaction in my heart with life and the things around me. I commonly attribute this to the natural groaning in all believers. As believers, we groan for our heavenly dwelling—we are but pilgrims here.

3. As pilgrims on this earth, we will be considered strange and sometimes persecuted.

First Peter 4:4 says, “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.” The world will find you strange because you don’t have the same values, the same belief system, or enjoy the same things. Sometimes, this will even lead to persecution. We should not be surprised if the world hates us, for the world hated Christ first (John 15:18). They persecuted and killed our Lord and Savior. We should not be surprised if this happens to us as well. This is not uncommon for pilgrims.

God’s call is a call to a pilgrim life. It is life of simplicity, a life of being uncomfortable, and a life of being considered strange by others. We should not be surprised by this, but embrace it, as a part of God’s calling.

Application Question: In what other ways can we apply the reality of being pilgrims on the earth? How have you experienced this pilgrim reality or sought to live it out as a discipline?

God’s Call Is a Call to Bold Worship

Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:6–9)

Interpretation Question: Throughout Abraham’s narrative we commonly see him build altars. What can we learn about God’s call through this?

Another aspect of our call is bold worship. Throughout Abraham’s life, we commonly see him build altars. When Abraham gets to Shechem in the land of Canaan, the Lord appears to him, and he builds an altar to God (v. 7). After moving, he then builds another altar in the hills between Bethel and Ai (v. 8). The altar symbolized his worship. When Abraham began to follow God, he became a worshiper.

But not only was Abraham a worshiper, he was a bold worshiper. When it says, “Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh,” the narrator is trying to get our attention. He calls it “the great tree of Moreh.” The title “Moreh” means “teaching.” This was the “the great tree of Teaching.”⁹ Most likely, this was a Canaanite shrine where people gathered to worship some deity and also listen to the deity’s teachers. Chuck Swindoll adds:

Historical records indicate that “the Canaanites had shrines in groves of oak trees, and Moreh may have been one of their cult centers.” [7] Worshipers of fertility gods believed that large trees were evidence of the reproductive power associated with the area; they thought one could become more fertile by worshiping there.¹⁰

This must stand out to us. Abraham builds an altar to God right by one of the great shrines of the Canaanite people. He was not a timid, quiet worshiper. He was a bold worshiper. No doubt, the Canaanites said, “Who is this Abraham guy and who is his God?”

Abraham was a bold worshiper, and this must be true of us as well. The call of God is a call to worship. Jesus said, “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt 10:33, KJV). We cannot worship God in secret. Like Abraham, we must proclaim him and worship him everywhere we go.

This is the very reason God created man in the first place. We were created to worship God and enjoy him forever. This purpose was corrupted during the Fall, but in salvation, man is restored to this great call. First Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

God chose us out of the world to declare his praises. In fact, something that distinguishes the world is the fact that they do not worship God—at least not the true God. They worship themselves, others, or other things, but they do not worship God (cf. Rom 1:21–23). Abraham was in a world full of idols and idolaters; however, as part of his call, he boldly worshiped the true and living God. This should be our daily practice as well.

We can build our altars wherever we go. We can worship at work, school, dinner, recreation, and leisure. Everything we do should be worship. Paul said, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).

Everything can be worship as we offer it to the Lord in prayer, as we work at it with all our heart, and as we seek to honor the Lord through it. Like Abraham, we should build altars everywhere, so others can see. He worshiped in the plain among the pagans, and he worshiped in the hills by himself.

Sadly, many Christians only worship at church or at home. We should make every place that we step a place of worship, as Abraham did. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).

Application Question: How can we daily practice a lifestyle of worship? In what ways is God calling you to implement more worship into your daily routine?

God’s Call Leads to Blessing on Our Children

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:7)

Even though Abraham left his home and much of his family in Ur, while following God’s call, it would bring God’s blessing upon his children. God appeared to Abraham when he got to Canaan and said that he would give the land to his offspring—his children.

Similarly, the greatest thing we can do for our families and our children is to obey God’s call. Yes, obeying God’s call means, at times, being uncomfortable. It means living a life of faith, but God is a rewarder of those who pursue him by faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

God rewards those who earnestly seek him. Some of the greatest rewards that God gives are to our children and our children’s children. Abraham never received the land in his lifetime, but his children did. Exodus 20:5–6 says,

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

God blesses to a thousand generations those who love him and keep his commandments. Because Abraham loved and obeyed God, God’s displayed his love to Isaac, then to Jacob, then to Jacob’s children. Similarly, God’s favor on David’s life followed his son, Solomon.

The decisions we make today do not just affect us, but they also affect our children and our children’s children. This is true with God’s blessing but also with God’s punishment. Again, Exodus 20:5 says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” This doesn’t mean that God punishes us for our fathers’ sins; however, it does mean that their sins affect us. When Israel rebelled against God in the promised land—leading to forty years of wandering in the wilderness—their children had to stay in the wilderness, as well. They were affected by the consequences of their fathers’ sin, and many of these children eventually struggled with the same rebellion in their father’s hearts.

It is no surprise to see that as Abraham lied about his wife being his sister twice (Gen 12 and 20), this same sin was later found in his child as well. Isaac lied about his wife to Abimelech (Gen 26). Similarly, Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, was a compulsive liar. After this, Jacob’s children sold his son, Joseph, into slavery, and lied to Jacob about it for years.

Our sins commonly follow our children and, therefore, bring the same punishment from God that we received. This is why we see alcoholism, drug use, homosexuality, children out of wedlock, and witchcraft found generation after generation. The sins of the fathers’ visit the children to the third and fourth generation.

However, let us consider this. Whereas, our rebellion has effects to the third and fourth generation, our faithfulness to God has effects for a thousand generations. The rewards for obedience are greater than the punishment for sin. Let this motivate us to be faithful and obedient to God’s call; the lives of our children and our children’s children depend on it.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced generational blessing or generational cursing in your own family or others?

Conclusion

What are characteristics of God’s call on Abraham’s life and, therefore, our lives as well?

1. God’s Call Is a Call to Obey God’s Revelation
2. God’s Call Is a Call of Sovereign Election
3. God’s Call Is Costly
4. God’s Call Is a Call to Faith
5. God’s Call Is a Call to Separation from the World and Sin
6. God’s Call Is Persistent
7. God’s Call Includes Great Promises for Those Who Obey
8. God’s Call Is a Call to Pilgrimage
9. God’s Call Is a Call to Bold Worship
10. God’s Call Leads to Blessing on Our Children

Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown

The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

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¹ Getz, Gene (1996-01-15). Men of Character: Abraham: Holding Fast to the Will of God (Kindle Location 223). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

² Meyer, F.B.  (20

13-05-08). Abraham: The Obedience of Faith (Kindle Locations 123–124). CLC Publications. Kindle Edition.

³ http://biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/5-22.htm accessed 9/12/14.

⁴ Getz, Gene (1996-01-15). Men of Character: Abraham: Holding Fast to the Will of God (Kindle Locations 410–413). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

⁵ Kidner, D. (1967). Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 1, p. 120). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

⁶ Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2192–2195). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.

⁷ Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2203–2205). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.

⁸ Getz, Gene (1996-01-15). Men of Character: Abraham: Holding Fast to the Will of God (Kindle Locations 179–181). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

⁹ Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 390–393). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

¹⁰ Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 390–393). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:7–21)

How can we strengthen our faith in God and his promises?

Scripture calls Abraham the father of those who believe (Gal 3:7). He is our father of faith. However, even though Abraham was an example of faith, he still struggled with doubt. In Genesis 15:1, God spoke to him and said, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield and your great reward.” In the previous chapter, Abraham conquered four armies from the east while saving his nephew, Lot, and after, he was probably afraid of retaliation. However, God comforts Abraham by sharing that he would protect and provide for him (i.e. shield and great reward).

In reply to God’s assurance, Abraham said, “‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir’” (Gen 15:3). In considering his own mortality, Abraham started to think about his future heir. At that time, Abraham’s chief servant was his heir because he had no son, and Lot had left him. God comforts Abraham by saying that he will have a son from his own body and his descendants will be like the stars (Gen 15:4–5).

Even though Abraham was the father of faith, he struggled with fear and doubt. In the second half of Genesis 15, God begins to strengthen Abraham’s faith, even more. He says, “‘I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it” (v. 7). Not only did God want to comfort Abraham about his future child, but God also wanted to confirm his future possession of the land.

In Genesis 12, Abraham left Haran for Canaan, in order to inherit the land, but when he got there, ten tribes were dwelling in it (cf. v. 19–20). How was God going to fulfill this promise? In fact, Abraham honestly asks God the question. He says, “‘O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?’” (v. 8). God dramatically assures Abraham and strengthens his faith by cutting a covenant with him and giving him a prophecy about his future children, Israel.

Have you ever struggled with doubt? Have you ever doubted God’s love for you? Have you ever doubted whether the Christian life was even worth living? Many great saints struggled with doubt. Asaph, in Psalm 73, looked at the prosperity of the wicked and said, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” (v. 13). He doubted and wavered in his faith.

One of the apostles doubted the resurrection. Thomas declared, “I will not believe, unless I see him with my own eyes, touch his hands, and put my hand in his side” (John 20:25, paraphrase). Thomas doubted. Have you ever doubted God?

How do we deal with doubt? In Ephesians 6:16, as Paul talks about spiritual warfare, he says that we must take up the shield of faith to quench the enemy’s fiery darts. If we don’t have strong faith, we are vulnerable to the lies and attacks of the enemy. Many Christians live in doubt and fear; they are doubtful and fearful about their past, present, and future, instead of living in faith.

Not only, do we need strong faith to protect ourselves in spiritual warfare but also to see God move powerfully in our lives and others. Jesus said that if we had the faith of a mustard seed we could move mountains (Matt 17:20). To see the kingdom of God advance in lives, churches, and nations, mountains must be moved. How do we strengthen our faith?

In this text, Abraham struggles with doubt and God strengthens his faith. We can learn a great deal about strengthening our faith through God’s ministry to Abraham.

Big Question: What principles can we learn about strengthening our faith from God’s response to a doubting Abraham?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Be Transparent with God

He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” (Genesis 15:7–8)

The first thing we can discern about strengthening our faith is our need to be transparent. Abraham openly shares his struggle with God. He says, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”

We must understand that it is OK for us to struggle before God. It is OK to tell him our fears and worries. He already knows anyway. First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast your cares before the Lord for he cares for you.” The word “cares” can be translated “anxieties.” It literally means “to divide” or “to pull into parts.” We should bring everything to God that divides our mind and keeps us from fully trusting him. Peter said to “cast”—to throw all our worries before God and leave them there. When God called Moses to be the leader of his people, Moses freely shared his anxieties and doubts. He said, “Lord, I have a slow tongue” and in response God encouraged him. If we are going to strengthen our faith, we must be open and transparent with God.

Many Christians, however, never do this. They keep their struggles to themselves. They only bring their “big” problems before God. Some even walk around with a chip on their shoulder towards God. They boastfully declare, “God and I aren’t talking right now! I’m angry with God!”

This is not the way to respond to God. We humbly share our struggles and pains with him, and allow him to strengthen our faith and encourage our hearts.

Application Question: What are common hindrances that keep people from sharing their struggles with God?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Respond to God in Faith

He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” (Genesis 15:7–8)

Right after God confirms to Abraham that he will have a child from his own body (v. 4), God tells him that he will possess the land of Canaan as well. Again, Abraham questions God and says, “How can I know that I will gain possession of it?” Like Gideon asking for a sign with the fleece (Judg 6:36–40) or Hezekiah asking for God to do a miracle with the sun dial (2 Kgs 20:8–11), Abraham asks for confirmation from God.

Here, we learn our second principle. If we are going to strengthen our faith, we must first have faith. Now this may seem strange because it looks like Abraham has no faith at all and in fact doubts God. However, even though Abraham asks for confirmation, his question comes from belief. Abraham wants to believe God and more fully understand God’s promises and, therefore, asks for confirmation. Abraham’s faith is like the man who wanted Christ to heal his son (Mark 9:23–24). Jesus said to him, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The man replied, “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” This man believed but was struggling to believe God and so was Abraham.

Interpretation Question: How do we know Abraham believed God, even though he clearly struggled with doubt?

We can tell Abraham still has faith in God, primarily, by God’s response. He doesn’t rebuke him or discipline him. Remember when Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, questioned the angel about him having a child in old age? Because of his lack of belief, God struck him with muteness (Luke 1:18–20). Sarah, Abraham’s wife, doubted and questioned God in her heart saying, “‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’” and was rebuked (Gen 18:13). However, when Mary asked how she could give birth to a child, being a virgin, God simply answers her question (Luke 1:34–35). Like Abraham, Mary questioned God in faith, and therefore, God graciously strengthened her faith.

Because Abraham believes, God strengthens his faith by giving him a prophecy and a covenant. This is true for us as well. In order to strengthen our faith, we must first believe.

This might seem like a paradox or an unfair situation. It’s kind of like applying for a job, and being told that you need experience; however, you can’t really get experience unless you have a job. How does that work? Similarly, Scripture teaches that God only assures and strengthens those who come to him in belief and not unbelief. Consider what Christ said to the Jews who doubted him:

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. (John 17:16–17)

Essentially, he says that those who believe and want to obey God, will be given more. He will give them assurance and revelation that Jesus is the messiah. But for the unbelieving and disobedient, God will not assure or confirm them.

Matthew 13:12 says, “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Whoever has faith, God strengthens their faith and gives them further understanding. But, he who does not have, God takes away—he disciplines by hardening and removing understanding.

Certainly, this is a difficult doctrine; however, this is exactly what Scripture teaches. When Herod questioned Christ and entreated him to perform miracles, Christ remained quiet and said nothing (Luke 23:8–9). Herod didn’t have any faith and didn’t desire to believe. But, when Gideon and Hezekiah asked for a miracle, God answered. What’s the difference? Some approach God with pride and say, “Prove yourself!” While others humbly approach God and say, “I believe! Lord, help my unbelief!”

How are you approaching God? For those who come to him in faith, he gives more. For others, he removes even what little they have. The Lord wants to answer your questions. He wants to remove your doubts. But you must bring your doubts and struggles to him in faith.

Yes, let us cast our anxieties, worries, doubts, and fears before the Lord, but let us bring them before God in faith, because he cares for us (1 Pet 5:7).

Application Question: What do you think of the Scriptural requirement of needing faith in order for God to assure us or answer our questions? How do we know if we are approaching God in faith or in unbelief?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Be Obedient to God

So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. (Genesis 15:9–10)

Next, God commands Abraham to gather five different animals in order to make a covenant. Abraham immediately obeys God, even though struggling with his faith. In contrast, many times when struggling with our faith, our obedience to God falters. We stop going to church, stop reading our Bible, stop praying, and drop out of fellowship. This is not the way to strengthen our faith; it is the path way to destroying our faith. Abraham does not do that. Even though Abraham is struggling, he immediately obeys God.

Often Scripture teaches that genuine faith always produces works. This is true, but in a sense walking in obedience increases our faith. Just as, in the same way, disobedience weakens our faith.

Jesus said this in Mark 4:24: “‘Consider carefully what you hear,’ he continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.’” He said if we faithfully use what God teaches us, if we obey and share it, then God will give us even more. When we’re obedient, God gives us more faith, and when disobedient, we lose it.

If Abraham had not obeyed God by preparing for the covenant, then he would have lost the opportunity for God to increase and strengthen his faith. And many people do this: they doubt God and stop reading their Bibles, stop attending worship, etc., and therefore lose the blessing of God.

Are you walking in obedience to God? If so, God will give you more. He will give you more of himself and more faith to believe and receive his promises. If you disobey God, your faith will decrease and you will incur the discipline of God instead of his blessing (cf. Heb 12:6).

Application Question: How can we respond obediently to God, even when struggling with doubt?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Persevere through Struggle

Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:11–16)

Abraham gathers five animals and cuts them into halves, except for the birds. He makes a pathway between them. In those days, written contracts were uncommon. People instead made covenants by killing animals and walking through the remains. When doing this, they said, “Let this be done to me if I fail to keep the covenant.” No doubt, Abraham expects that both God and him would somehow make this covenant.

However, while waiting on God, birds flew down and began to attack the carcasses. Since they were scavengers, they tried to eat the dead bodies and fly away with some of the meat. In response, Abraham drives them away. No doubt, this would be confusing to Abraham. He was probably tempted to think, “If I’m being obedient, why are you allowing the birds to try to steal the meat? In fact, where are you?” However, struggle and trial was one of the ways that God strengthened his faith, and this is true for us as well.

Romans 5:3–4 says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. What is hope? Hope is really just another name for faith. Hope is faith in future promises. After suffering produces the fruit of perseverance and character, it leads us to hope. Through suffering, we begin to trust and hope in God and his Word more. It is a necessary process in the strengthening of our faith.

Similarly, James said,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3–4)

These birds were part of the “trials of many kinds” God allowed, as a part of strengthening Abraham’s faith. As we see in the following prophecy, trials would also be used to strengthen Abraham’s seed’s faith.

Many commentators see the attack of these birds as a visual picture of the prophecy that God was about to make. Kent Hughes said, “The assault by the carrion-eating birds of prey and Abram’s driving them away foreshadowed the attacks that would come upon Abram’s offspring from the nations and God’s protection.”¹ Abraham’s descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years, and then God would return them to the land. There would be attacks and threats towards God’s promise; there would be struggle to help strengthen and purify the Israelites’ faith.

Don’t we see this commonly throughout Scripture? Joseph dreamed his parents bowed down before him but, soon after, was thrown into slavery and later prison. Most scholars believe that Joseph was in Egypt, as a slave and prisoner, for some fifteen years. Suffering strengthened his faith for the promise. While in slavery and prison, he, no doubt, was tempted to question the promise of God. However, he persevered to receive it.

Moses did as well. Stephen tells us that when Moses killed the Egyptian, he thought the Israelites would know that he was called to be their deliverer. However, right after, he runs for his life and becomes a shepherd in the wilderness for forty years before God calls him to deliver Israel (cf. Acts 7:23–30). Suffering and trial came to strengthen his faith. In fact, when Moses leads Israel out of Egypt, they still needed to persevere through the wilderness to get to the promised land.

Suffering always comes to strengthen one’s faith. God allowed Joseph to suffer to strengthen his faith for his calling. It was the same with Moses, Israel, and even Abraham.

Let us understand this: If we are a Christian whose faith wavers, then we must realize that God will strengthen it through trial and suffering. Here, Abraham runs off the birds that tried to threaten God’s work. Then in the vision, Abraham learns that the fulfillment of the promise would not happen without suffering. The Israelites would go through suffering before experiencing God’s promise.

Suffering always precedes glory, and it is always the pathway to a stronger faith. Therefore, we must faithfully persevere through suffering. Those who do not, those who complain, quit, or run away from God in trials, only weaken their faith.

How are you responding to the trials, even small ones, sent to strengthen your faith? Are you persevering or quitting? Are you trusting or doubting? Are you praising or complaining? Let us remember that God is faithful and that he has a purpose in the trial—our maturity and the strengthening of our faith.

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced suffering that strengthened your faith? What is your typical response to God’s trials—even minor annoying ones? How is God calling you to respond better?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Be Patient

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. (Genesis 15:12–13)

We cannot but notice that when God called Abraham to prepare for a covenant, not only does he struggle with birds, but he has to wait until night fall. In fact, he waited so long that he fell asleep. God didn’t immediately give Abraham a vision when he finished preparations. God allowed Abraham to not only struggle but wait.

Then in the vision, he discovers that he would not inherit the land in his lifetime and that his descendants would inherit it after 400 years of slavery. God’s timing is not our timing, and if we do not understand that, our faith will falter. Second Peter 3:8 says this in the context of waiting on the promise of Christ’s second coming: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” We often want God to be on our time schedule, but he is not. Our God is eternal and all-powerful, and therefore, time is different to him. He waits till Abraham is 100 years old before he gives him a son, fifteen years after this promise and twenty-five after the original. Abraham waits and waits and waits. However, God strengthened his faith through the waiting.

This is true for us, as well. God often strengthens our faith by delay. By delaying a promise or a desire in our heart, we are forced to trust in God and not ourselves. God often allows the delay to last long enough that we know the desire or promise can only be accomplished by him. In waiting for a child, Abraham waited until his body was figuratively dead. The child of promise could only come from God—not Abraham’s strength or wisdom.

God made Abraham, Joseph, and Moses wait. He made the Israelites and David wait. In the vision, God tells Abraham that he must continue to wait. Hebrews 11:13 says this about Abraham and other men of faith:

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Waiting is the pathway to strong faith. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” In order to see God move, we must often wait, and in this waiting, God works on our faith. He weakens our flesh, fortifies our faith, and builds hopeful anticipation.

Are you waiting on God’s direction? Are you waiting for a godly spouse? Are you waiting for some dream he put in your heart? Take joy, so did the great men and women of God before you. God is worth waiting on. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength and strengthen their faith (cf. Is 40:31).

Application Question: In what ways has God made you wait for something that he put in your heart? What does God have you waiting on now? How can we better wait on the Lord without becoming anxious, impatient, or angry?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Know God’s Word

Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:13–16)

As mentioned, God prophesied to Abraham about Israel’s 400 years of slavery in Egypt before they returned to Canaan. Exodus 12:40 actually says 430 years, so it seems that God rounded the number. Also, when it says in verse 16, “In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here,” this obviously refers to the lifespan of the patriarchs. Since the patriarchs typically lived over 100 years there is no contradiction in this prophecy. God tells Abraham all this so he would know his inheriting the land would not happen in his lifetime but his descendants.

God’s words were given to strengthen Abraham’s faith so it would not waver while waiting in the land. It is the same for us. Scripture says that one of the primary ways our faith is strengthened is by knowing God’s Word. Romans 10:17 in the KJV says, “so faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

As Abraham listened to the words of God, it would immediately begin to fortify his faith, and it’s no different for us. One of the reasons that many of us have so little faith is because it is not built on God’s Word and his promises.

Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The stories and doctrines in the Scripture were written to give us hope and faith. If we do not know the stories of Abraham, Moses, and Joseph, if we don’t know the teachings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, and Peter, our faith will be weak.

It is through God’s Word that he matures and builds our faith. First Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” Literally it reads “so that it may grow you.” The word “grow” is passive. The more we read the Word of God, the more it makes us grow.

We must plant our roots deep in Scripture if we are going to faithfully stand in trials and waiting seasons. We must constantly read, study, memorize, and speak Scripture.

Are you constantly feasting on God’s Word? It will strengthen your faith and enable you to take hold of God’s promises.

Application Question: In what ways has God strengthened your faith through studying his Word? What are your primary hindrances to spending time in God’s Word, and how is God calling you to overcome them?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Continually Experience God’s Presence

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17–20)

God appears to Abraham through a smoking firepot and a blazing torch. These were theophanies—temporary manifestations of God to his people. The smoking firepot reminds us of the pillar of cloud that led Israel by day in the wilderness (Exod 13:21). The blazing torch reminds us of the pillar of fire that led them by night (Exod 13:21). It seems that Abraham is still asleep when this happens, but somehow, he is still aware.

Through this, God strengthens Abraham’s faith. This was possibly the first-time Abraham ever saw God, and therefore, this would greatly strengthen his faith. Certainly, it was an awesome and scary sight. When this happened, there was great darkness. Similarly, when God revealed himself to Israel on Mt. Sinai, a great darkness appeared (cf. Exod 19:16–18). Also, when Christ died on the cross, a great darkness came over the land (cf. Mark 15:33). God was manifesting himself and his glory.

We must continually experience God’s manifest presence as well, if our faith is to be strengthened. Christ said to the disciples in the Great Commission that he would never leave or forsake them (Matt 28:20). Scripture teaches that God indwells each believer (1 Cor 6:19). However, Scripture also declares that God wants to manifest himself more to us, and, in these manifestations, we can have, no doubt, that he strengthens our faith.

Interpretation Question: How do we experience more of God’s manifest presence in our lives?

1. God manifests his presence to those who are separated to righteousness.

Philippians 4:8–9 says,

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Paul said that the God of peace will be with believers who continually think on righteousness and practice it. When we are living in righteousness, both internally and outwardly, we experience more of his manifest presence.

Are you consumed with righteousness—thinking on it and practicing it?

2. God manifests his presence to those who are separated from sin and the world.

Second Corinthians 6:14, 17–18 says,

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ... “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

In talking about not being yoked together with unbelievers, Paul quotes some words of God from the Old Testament (cf. Isa 52:11, Lev 11:8). He says come out from them and be separate, touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.

This seems strange in the context because Paul is already speaking to Christians. God is already their Father. However, this is not talking about salvation but intimacy with God.

Many Christians feel distant from God because “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). We can’t love and enjoy the world and, at the same time, enjoy God. For those who are yoked with the world, God separates from them. He removes his intimacy and his presence. He still indwells them, but they don’t experience his intimacy—only his discipline. In order to enjoy God’s presence, we must be separate from sin and the world.

Are you separating from sin and the world—cutting things out of your life that hinder God’s presence?

3. God manifests his presence to those who live in worship.

Psalm 22:3 says, “He inhabits the praises of Israel” (paraphrase). We see this many times in Scripture: Israel would worship and God’s presence manifested in the temple (cf. 2 Chron 7:1). Similarly, when we worship and thank him throughout the day, we experience his manifest presence.

Therefore, the complainer and the bitter person misses his blessing (cf. Phil 2:14; 1 Thess 5:18–19). He inhabits praise, not grumbling and complaining. Grumbling only brings the discipline of the Father (cf. 1 Cor 10:10), not his blessing.

4. God manifests his presence among the fellowship of the saints.

Matthew 18:20 says that where two or more are gathered in his name, he is in the midst. When we worship together at church and listen to his Word, when we gather in small groups or do ministry together, God’s presence is there. Many people miss God’s presence because they don’t faithfully fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord. Maybe, they were hurt or wounded by the church and, therefore, separate from God’s people. God’s people are not perfect, but by God’s grace, he meets with them when they gather in his name.

Let us not neglect gathering together with saints (Heb 10:25), for that is where God’s presence manifests. If our faith is going to be strengthened, we must continually experience the manifest presence of God. Yes, God is everywhere, but there are times when he especially shows up to meet with his people, in accordance with his promises. We need these experiences to grow in our faith.

Are you daily seeking God’s presence? He says, “Draw near him, he will draw near you” (James 4:8, paraphrase).

Application Question: At what times do you most experience God’s presence? At what times do you least experience it? How is God calling you to seek his presence in a deeper way?

To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Know God’s Character

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17–20)

Here, God makes a covenant with Abraham (v. 18). Literally it reads “the Lord cut a covenant.”² In that ancient culture, both parties walked through the severed pieces of meat when making a covenant. This ceremony said, “Let this happen to me, if I do not hold my part of the deal.” However, Abraham does not walk through the pieces, only God does. God makes a unilateral covenant with Abraham, declaring that he would fulfill the promise on his own. Ancient covenants established ones’ character; people made them to prove they could be trusted.

It seems that when Abraham first followed God, it was a conditional promise. “Leave your land and I will make you great, make you a great nation, give you land, and you will be a blessing” (Gen 12:1–3, paraphrase). But here, the promise becomes unconditional. Even if Abraham fails God, God will fulfill the covenant based on his own character.

God essentially says, “This covenant will happen. It is done. You can trust me.” Abraham is not called to trust in himself but to trust in the character and faithfulness of God alone. The writer of Hebrews refers to this unilateral covenant and its reflection of God’s character in Hebrews 6. He says,

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself…. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.(Hebrews 6:13, 17–18)

This oath reflected several characteristics of God which encouraged Abraham’s faith. It reflected his immutability. This is a theological word that simply means “God is unchangeable.” He said it; therefore, he will fulfill it. He does not change like the shifting clouds (cf. James 1:17, Heb 6:17). It also reflected God’s truthfulness. God cannot tell a lie (cf. Heb 6:18, Titus 1:2). Christ called himself the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). This promise was as good as done, because God made it.

But this ceremony and prophecy also revealed more about God. God declared the reason Israel would not receive the land yet was because the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet complete. The Amorites were one of the major tribes in Canaan, and therefore, their name was used to refer to everybody in the land. God would not give the land to Abraham’s descendants until the sins of the Amorites were complete.

In Leviticus 18:1–24, God told Israel to not participate in the sexual sins of the Canaanites because he was removing them from the land for those reasons (cf. v. 24). They were known for incest, bestiality, and all kinds of illicit sex. Therefore, God promised to judge and remove them. In fact, when Joshua goes into the land to wipe out the Canaanites, it is basically God’s justice—his wrath.

Abraham learned more about the characteristics of God through this ceremony and prophecy. He learned about God’s immutability, his truthfulness, his wrath, and specifically, his patience. God waited for hundreds of years for these people to repent. “Donald Grey Barnhouse said, ‘If the iniquity of the world had been full a hundred years ago, none of us would have been born to be born again.’”³ He waits and waits and waits for us to return to him. However, a time comes when grace runs its course because God is just and righteously angry. One day, God promised to wipe out the Canaanites because of all their sin.

This was important for Abraham’s faith. Abraham’s faith was strengthened by learning more about God’s character. God is unchangeable; he does not lie; he is patient; he is just; he is holy and wrathful. The more we know of God’s character, the stronger our faith will become. The less of God’s character we know, the more vulnerable we are.

It was God’s character that Satan attacked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. He tried to make God seem like the ultimate kill joy. He said, “Did God say you could not eat of all the trees in the garden?” He then essentially called God a liar. He said that God knew if they ate of the tree they would be like God.

The reason Eve fell was because she doubted God’s character. She didn’t know God well. I often counsel people who have listened to the lies of Satan and, therefore, have weak faith. They think God doesn’t want them to have fun. They think God doesn’t have their best interest in mind. They think God is going to whip them every time they fail. The reason their faith is weak and they are drawn into all kinds of sin is because, they don’t know God’s character.

God is all good, all-wise, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He is transcendent—there is nobody like him and nothing like him on earth. He is immortal, all-loving, and all-kind. The more we know his character, the more our faith will be strengthened. Abraham’s faith grew as he learned more about the character of God.

Are you growing in the knowledge of God’s characteristics and his teachings?

Application Question: How can we grow in the knowledge of God’s character?

1. We grow to know God’s character more by knowing his Word.

Scripture is the revelation of his character, and the more we know it, the more we know him. This is one of the reasons that the study of theology is so important. The study theology is a systematic study of God and his teachings in Scripture. It teaches us more about his person and character so our faith can grow. God wants us to be a thinking people. He wants us to love him with our whole heart, mind, and soul.

2. We grow to know God’s character more by experience.

One of the ways we grow to know his character is simply by having various experiences with God. The more God parts the seas for us, the more he disciplines us, the more he comforts us, and the more we wait on him, the more our knowledge of him develops. After walking with God for years, we develop a history with God, and that history becomes a means of strengthening our faith and knowing his character. This is one of the reasons that journaling is so important—it helps us remember how God provided for us and others. Sadly, we are prone to forget God’s faithfulness and good works.

Application Question: Why is knowing God’s character so important? What aspect of God’s character is he currently teaching and revealing to you?

Conclusion

How can we strengthen our faith, like God did Abraham’s?

1. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Be Transparent with God
2. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Respond to God in Faith
3. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Be Obedient to God
4. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Persevere through Struggle
5. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Be Patient
6. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Know God’s Word
7. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Continually Experience God’s Presence
8. To Strengthen Our Faith, We Must Know God’s Character

Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown

The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

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¹ Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 231). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

² Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2647–2651). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.

³ Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 233). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

At this time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea). For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar. Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people… (Genesis 14)

How do we rescue a brother who has fallen into sin or away from the Lord all together?

One of the ways that Scripture pictures the Christian life is as a continual war. We war against our flesh. Peter said, “flee fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet 2:11). Where the world accepts sin and the desires of the flesh as normal, genetic, or at worst a psychological disorder, Scripture teaches that the only proper response to our sin nature is to put it to death. Christ said if your hand offends you to cut it off, if your eye offends you to pluck it out (Matt 5:29–30). We must fight to be holy, and this includes not only our outwards actions but also our inward desires. Christ said that to even lust after a woman was to commit adultery (Matt 5:28).

We war against the world. The world is constantly trying to conform us into its image (Rom 12:2). It wants us to think like it, to dress like it, to worship like it, and to live like it, in every way. And if one does not conform to the ways of the world, he will receive persecution, even if that means being considered strange (1 Pet 4:4). Scripture says that friendship with the world is enmity with God. He who is a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4).

We war against the devil. Ephesians 6:12 says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers, principalities, and rulers of the darkness. Our enemy fights against all that is good, just, and righteous. He tempts, distracts, oppresses, and even captures believers. Second Timothy 2:24–26 describes a believer that has been caught and trapped by the devil. It says:

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

But not only do we war against the flesh, the world, and the devil, we also war to save those who have fallen captive to the temptations of each. This was the ministry of Christ. In Luke 15, he compares himself to a woman who loses a coin and cleans the entire house to find it. He also compares himself to a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to save the one who went astray. This was the ministry of Christ, and it also must be our ministry, as his body.

Therefore, believers must fight to save those who have gone astray. If you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you know somebody who fell away from God or is caught in some sin. Maybe, they don’t go to church anymore; maybe they have anger towards the leadership of the church. Or maybe their struggle is more subtle. At church they worship and praise just like everybody else, but on the weekdays and on the weekends, they look no different than the world. Or in their private lives they have deep struggles that they won’t tell anybody about. Many of these people don’t even realize that they are captives to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life (1 John 2:16). They don’t realize that ultimately Satan has trapped them.

Again in 2 Timothy 2:26, Paul describes these people as drugged and taken captive to do his will. They are not thinking properly; they need to come to their “senses.” Many times, like the prodigal son, they have to hit rock bottom to realize how far away from God they really are (Luke 15:17). One of the ministries of Christ, and therefore believers, is restoring an erring brother. James 5:19–20 says this:

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James is clearly referring to saving a professed Christian from death because he calls the original audience, “brothers,” and says, “If one of you should wander from the truth.” This is a ministry that we all must be a part of in some way.

Here, in Genesis 14, we see that Lot, the nephew of Abraham, was captured by an army of four kings from the east. The four kings of the east were at war with five kings near the Dead Sea, which included Sodom. When they conquered Sodom, they took Lot captive, and Abraham went to save him.

The story of Lot is a sad one. In Genesis 12, Lot went down to Egypt with Abraham and while there he got a taste of the world, and he loved it. In Genesis 13, he lifts his eyes to look at Sodom, which was known for its wickedness, and the text says that to him it looked like a well-watered plain in Egypt (v. 10). Lot had gotten a taste of the world and its wealth and was now ready to leave the land of God’s blessings for the lure of the world. In Genesis 14, he has moved into the land to gain the wealth of it, and then became a slave because of this decision.

One commentator said this about Abraham and Lot: “Abraham was the father of the faithful…. And Lot, his nephew, was the father of all such as are scarcely saved.”¹ First Corinthians 3 describes how each believer’s works will be tested by fire at God’s judgment. Some will enter heaven with rewards, and others will enter as ones who just escaped the flames (v. 15). Yes, they were saved, but their life was worldly. They turned people away from God, instead of turning people towards God. Christ calls these people the least in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:19). However, along with them, there will be the faithful, who will be welcomed into eternal dwellings by all those they blessed during their life on the earth (cf. Luke 16, 2 Peter 1:11). Abraham is a picture of this type of life.

Peter calls Lot a righteous man so we know he was saved (2 Pet 2:8). But he was a righteous man that loved the prosperity of the world. In this narrative, he is captured, which probably was a discipline from God.² Abraham saves him; however, Lot doesn’t seem to repent as he moves right back to Sodom. In chapter 19, he loses everything because of his short-sighted decisions. Sodom is destroyed by God with everything Lot owned. His wife was turned into a pillar of salt, and his daughters, who still had Sodom in their heart, raped him and bore children by him in the mountains. Lot, though a believer, was a captive to the world, his desires, and Satan. He wasn’t thinking correctly.

In this text, we see Abraham, the father of all those who believe (Gal 3:7), save Lot, and this must be our ministry as well. “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:19–20). By going after them, we will save them from a multitude of sins and possibly an untimely death, as a discipline for sin.

How do we restore a fallen brother?

Big Question: What principles can we learn about rescuing a fallen brother from Abraham’s rescue of Lot?

To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Be Separate from the World and Sin

One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Genesis 14:13–14)

Observation Question: What was the reason for this war?

In this story, five small kings from around the area of the Dead Sea rebel against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, whom they had served for twelve years. In the ancient world, one of the ways nations found protection was by subjecting themselves as vassals to a great king. They paid taxes to the king, and in return, the king protected them. After twelve years of serving as vassals, the five kings broke the contract, which started a war. King Kedorlaomer and his three alliances from the east came down to fight against Sodom, defeating them and taking the spoil—which included Lot.

Abraham is about 120 miles away from these kings³, and he seems unconcerned about them, until he hears that Lot was taken. Somebody from Lot’s household had escaped and told Abraham (v. 13–14). Immediately, Abraham responded by preparing a rescue mission.

Observation Question: As we consider Abraham’s narrative up to this point, in what ways can we see that Abraham lived a life of separation (cf. Gen 12–14 and 14:13 specifically)?

One of qualities that is necessary for us to perform the ministry of rescuing fallen brothers and sisters is that we must live a life of separation. Because Abraham was not in Sodom, and therefore not a captive, he could seek to rescue Lot.

We must remember that Abraham, even though he resided in Canaan, did not live like a Canaanite. Canaan was also known for their sin but not to the extent of those living in Sodom. While in Canaan, Abraham lived a separate life.

We can see his separation in several ways. When Abraham first entered Canaan, he built an altar to the Lord (Gen 12:6–7). Scripture says that he built the altar right by the great tree of Moreh, which was probably a shrine for pagan worship, as the Canaanites believed that trees represented fertility. This did not matter to Abraham; he immediately built an altar to the living God there. He was in the world but not of the world.

We also see Abraham’s separation in how he chose to live. Abraham never built a home in the land. As we follow the narrative, we see that Abraham lived in tents the entire time he stayed in Canaan (cf. Gen 12:8, Heb 11:9). He never settled down, he was a pilgrim ultimately waiting for his heavenly home. Similarly, Scripture calls us pilgrims (1 Pet 1:1, 2:11). This is not our home, and this reality was clearly seen in Abraham’s life. While Lot settled down and built a home in Sodom (cf. Gen 14:12; 19:2), Abraham continued to live as a pilgrim, even in the land of promise.

Finally, we also see Abraham’s separation in the title given to him. He was called “the Hebrew” (Gen 14:13). “Hebrew” means “the outsider, the person with no secure place in society.”⁴ This probably represents the way he was viewed by the Canaanites. He was different, and everybody knew it.

Yes, we are called to be good citizens and to help society become better. We are called to be salt and light, but nevertheless, we must remain different. We are pilgrims. This world is not our home.

Sadly, with many Christians, the world cannot see any difference. Many use the same language as the world, watch the same movies, listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, have the same goals, the same worldview, and practice the same morals (or lack of). Nothing really separates them from the world, and therefore, they are not effective in reaching the world or helping someone caught in sin.

Here, Abraham lived outside of Sodom and was even considered an outsider in Canaan. Sodom in Scripture always represents the world. He was outside of it and, therefore, could rescue Lot. Consider what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, which was a church who struggled with worldliness. He said:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14–15)

Paul said that we must not be yoked in any relationships with unbelievers. Yoking is a farming picture. A cow and a donkey cannot plow together. They have different temperaments and strengths. They will pull against one another, and the work will be unproductive. They may even hurt one another. In the same way, Christians yoked with the world cannot work for God. They will be unprofitable in the fields of the kingdom. They won’t even be able to plow a straight line and will do more damage than good.

Abraham was known as the Hebrew. He was an outsider. You do not need to look like the world to win the world. Salt must be different than the medium it is placed on for it to be effective. You must be salt; you cannot be bland. You must be light; you cannot live like the darkness. It is only by being different that you can win the world or restore Christians in error.

Yes, we must incarnate—meaning to the Jew, we must become a Jew as Paul taught (1 Cor 9:20–22). But this means adopting aspects of the culture that are not sinful or that could potentially lead us or others into sin. We must abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:21). This is what Abraham did, and this is what we must do, if we are going to rescue our fallen brothers.

Application Question: Why is it important to be different in order to restore an erring brother? How can we discern what aspects of culture we can adopt and those that we must abstain from? Share examples.

To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Be Motivated by Love

One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Genesis 14:13–14)

Interpretation Question: Why does Abraham risk everything to save Lot?

After hearing the bad news, why does Abraham prepare a rescue mission for Lot? Clearly, the motivation was love. Abraham loved and cared deeply for Lot. Verse 13 says that Lot was “his relative.” Abraham had essentially raised him for many years after the death of Lot’s father, Abraham’s brother (cf. Gen 11:28). Abraham was willing to go and confront four armies, with only a couple hundred men. It is obvious that Abraham loved Lot a great deal.

This is the very reason that we must go after those who have fallen into sin. We must go after them because we love them. Jesus said to his disciples, “A new command I have given you, love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). How did Christ love his disciples? He loved them so much that he left the comfort and wealth of heaven to come to earth and die in order to save man from sin.

Abraham in this passage is a type of Christ. He risks death to save his relative over 2,000 years before Christ came to the earth to do the same. And this is the way that Christ has called us to love as well. We must love people in such a way that we are willing to risk anything to save them.

Application Question: What keeps many Christians from reaching out to those caught in sin?

There are many reasons:

1. Some won’t reach out because of pride.

They say to themselves, “Serves them right! They shouldn’t have been doing that any way!” These people have forgotten that they also were once captives to sin, and God graciously saved them. Pride can often keep us from reaching out.

2. Some won’t reach out because of apathy.

Abraham was safe at his home in Canaan, 120 miles away, however, this wasn’t sufficient reason to not get involved. Christ was safe and protected in heaven, and yet, he came down and got involved in our mess. It is easy to be apathetic if it doesn’t affect us. We must be careful of apathy.

3. Some won’t reach out because of sin in their own lives.

A common reason that many don’t reach out is because they have compromise in their own lives. If they tried to help someone caught in sin, they would feel hypocritical, and they might be rebuked by those they were trying to help. Therefore, Satan condemns them and keeps them from reaching out to others.

4. Ultimately, the main reason we don’t reach out is because we don’t love as we should.

Love compelled Abraham to go and save his relative, and it should compel us as well. Love for God and love for others should be our greatest motivation to serve. Paul said, “For Christ’s love compels us” (2 Cor 5:14). He served because Christ’s love inside of him compelled him to. In Philippians 1:8, he said to the Philippians that he loved them with the very loins of Christ. It must be the same for us.

Application Question: How do we grow in love so that we can be more effective in restoring fallen brothers?

• We must pray for love.

Paul prayed for the Thessalonians to abound in love for one another (1 Thess 3:12). We must pray for this as well. Love is a gift that God gives his believers. He pours it out into our hearts by his Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5); therefore, we must pray for it.

• We must practice love as an act of discipline.

Love is not primarily emotional, as the world often teaches. That type of love is fickle. Love is an act of the will. We choose to love as a discipline. When our enemy is thirsty, we give them something to drink. When our enemy is hungry, we give them something to eat (Rom 12:20). This is an act of love. Sometimes, we may not have the emotions. We may not feel like helping somebody who is caught in sin. But, as an act of love, we must. We must love as an act of discipline.

Application Question: Who is God calling you to love more so that you can be part of his or her rescue mission?

To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Be Spiritually Trained

When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Genesis 14:14)

After Abraham hears about Lot being taken, he calls out the 318 trained men born in his household to go and pursue Lot. The expression “born into his household” does not necessarily mean that they were born as babies in Abraham’s house. Chuck Swindoll adds great insight to this. He says,

This ancient expression meant “not purchased.” The narrator makes it clear that these men were servants by choice, not involuntary slaves. Back in the days before strong national governments, people sought safety in numbers. Some became citizens of a city; others asked to live under the protection of powerful men like Abram, offering their personal service in exchange for the benefits of community. They were not slavishly bound to Abram; they participated in a business arrangement: provision and protection in exchange for loyalty.⁵

Most likely these were men who sought provision and protection in Abraham’s household. While there, they were trained to fight. Because Abraham was so wealthy, there were probably always looters trying to steal his herds and other wealth. Therefore, these men had to be trained. The expression that the narrator uses is very telling of their training. “‘He led forth … 318 of them’ is literally, ‘drew out 318 men,’ as you would draw out a sword from its sheath.”⁶ “It has the connotation of unsheathing his trained men. It portrays Abram’s servants as a blade that had been forged, sharpened, and polished into a gleaming, razor-sharp instrument of death.”⁷

These men were like weapons in the hand of Abraham. They were trained and ready to die for the master they loved. Similarly, if we are going to rescue those who have fallen into sin, we also must be trained. Paul said something similar in Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

Paul said that those who are spiritual must be the primary ones that go after someone caught in sin. Essentially, he says that the untrained are not ready to go into dark territory and rescue someone caught in sin. This is a dangerous ministry that we must be trained for. How can we be trained to do this ministry?

Application Question: How can we become spiritually trained to rescue captured believers?

1. The spiritually trained believer lives a holy life.

It is because this believer has learned how to conquer his own sin that he can help others caught in sin. He does battle with his anger, depression, insecurity, and lust and has learned how to gain victory. Therefore, he is prepared to help others who struggle with the same vices. They are not perfect. In fact, it is their imperfection that makes them ready to help someone struggling. They see themselves in the same war and still susceptible, but they have learned to protect themselves and have victory. This humility helps them better minister to those caught in sin. These spiritual believers have been wounded and hurt in battle, and they still bear the marks. Therefore, they can relate to those struggling.

2. The spiritually trained believer abides in the Word of God.

Consider how John describes spiritual young men in the church in 1 John 2:14. He says, “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” It is because the Word of God abides in these young men that they can defeat the evil one. Like Christ, when tempted, they know and use Scripture to secure victory.

In fact, we must use the Word of God when ministering to those stuck in sin. Second Timothy 3:16–17 says: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

It is by the Word of God that we teach them what is right and wrong. We expose sin when we teach. It is by rebuking that we confront those in rebellion. These people know what they should be doing, but they don’t want to do it. Therefore, they need rebuke through Scripture. We often do this by showing them the consequences of sin and the coming discipline of their heavenly Father. Through Scripture we also give correction. It is by correction that we lead fallen brothers to the right path. Correcting is a word used of restoring something to its proper position. After they receive correction, through the Word of God, we can train them on how to live righteously. It is one thing for a person to know and accept that he is living in sin, but it is another thing to know how to do what is right and how to stay free. The Word of God equips the man of God for this ministry. It sharpens them like a sword.

In considering John’s metaphors of the child, the young man, and the father from 1 John 2:12–14, the spiritual child does not know how to be set free; sometimes, they live for years in habitual sin. They need to be helped and trained by others. However, the young man has become strong because the Word of God lives in him. He is not hit or miss with his devotions. The Word of God lives or abides in him. It is an all-day affair. The young man is still prone to pride and lack of wisdom because of his youth, but he has learned how to do warfare and he wins more than he loses. The father is more seasoned. He has history with God, and his life is devoted to training and equipping others. The spiritual child, who is prone to go astray and pick up spiritual bruises and pains, must grow up into spiritual adulthood by rigorous study of the Word of God.

First Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” In the Greek, grow is passive. Literally it can be read, “so that it may grow you.” The Word of God does all the work. We must get into the Word of God, and it will make us grow. The spiritually trained believer is someone abiding in the Word of God.

Are you abiding in God’s Word?

3. The spiritually trained believer trusts God—he is a person of faith.

We can discern this by Abraham and his trained men’s mission. They only have a couple hundred men against four armies. These four armies had just defeated five armies. It was a ludicrous mission. No doubt, these were men of the same faith as Abraham. They knew that God had a plan for Abraham, and Abraham had taught them about his faith. They had even seen God’s power, as he inflicted Pharaoh’s household with a disease to protect Abraham. These were men of faith. Other than sheer foolishness and possibly blind devotion, there is no other way to explain their acceptance of this mission. They believed God could rescue Lot.

Similarly, a spiritually trained believer is also a person of great faith in God. They are not counting on their knowledge of the Bible, their wisdom, or endurance to set a prisoner of war free. They are trusting in God alone. Only he can open the eyes of the blind and confused. Only he can set the captive free. Listen again to what Paul says about how the man of God seeks to restore those who have been captured:

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24–26)

Paul says this person doesn’t argue or fight with others because his hope is in God. God is the one who grants repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. It doesn’t make sense to raise one’s voice, to get upset, and hold grudges. That is a picture of someone trusting in themselves and not God. The spiritually trained person is not a quarreler. He is gentle because he knows God is sovereign over the hearts. He teaches, rebukes, and corrects, but his manner in doing these is different than the spiritually immature because he trusts in God. He works but leaves the results in God’s hands. He is a person of faith.

4. The spiritually trained believer is a person of prayer.

Again, because he is not trusting in his own strength or wisdom, he is faithful in prayer. When Paul teaches about putting on the armor of God in spiritual warfare, he closes with an exhortation towards prayer. He says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Eph 6:18).

He says to pray in the Spirit on all occasions and to always keep on praying for all the saints. Spiritual warfare is done in the atmosphere of prayer. The spiritually trained believer is a person living in prayer. He is not only praying for those he knows but for all saints. The spiritually trained believer recognizes that this is a global war and not just a local one, so he faithfully petitions the Father.

Paul says that we should have all kinds of prayer. “All kinds of prayer” includes corporate prayer. This believer understands the power of corporate prayer (cf. Matt 18:19). Like Abraham pulling out his sword of trained men, they constantly call on their prayer warriors to pray and sometimes even fast for those caught in sin. The spiritually trained realize that the more prayer offered to God, the sooner and the greater the deliverance. Like Paul, they constantly ask others to pray (cf. Eph 6:19, Col 4:3–4).

Are you one of the spiritual people who are called to go after others who have fallen? The sad thing is that there are very few trained men and women in the church. Very few are willing to prepare themselves for this ministry. Like soldiers preparing for war, it takes hard work, but it also takes faithfulness. Many don’t like to faithfully get up in the morning to pray and read the Word. They don’t like being faithful in an accountability relationship with someone more mature than them. It takes faithfulness to train, and also it takes faithfulness to do the ministry of caring for fallen brothers and sisters.

Are you willing to prepare for a life time of rescuing other believers?

Application Question: What are other characteristics of the spiritually trained who are called to rescue fallen brothers? Does Paul’s admonition to the “spiritual” mean that less mature believers should not participate in this ministry at all?

To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must, at Times, Partner with Other Likeminded Brothers

One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram…. I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” (Genesis 14:13, 24)

Another thing we can discern about the ministry of rescuing fallen brothers is that sometimes we need to partner with other likeminded brothers. We must notice that Abraham not only had his 318 trained men, but he also had an alliance with three other men living in Canaan (Aner, Eshcol and Mamre). They probably had trained men of their own.

Because of constant threats in the ancient world, not only would nations partner with other nations for protection, but also tribes with tribes. Abraham had partnered with three other men in the land. Maybe, these people had become followers of God because of Abraham’s witness. The text does not tell us. We can be sure that if they were pagans, Abraham’s partnership with them did not negatively affect his values in any way at all. No doubt, these men had benefited from God’s blessing on Abraham, and now they wanted to partner with him in rescuing his nephew.

This practice is also important for restoring those caught in sin. Most times, this is a ministry that should not be done alone. We often need the prayers and counsel of others to restore a fallen brother or sister. Surely, before Abraham heads off to rescue Lot, he took counsel with his three alliances on how it should be done. They attacked at night while the armies were resting and routed them. No doubt, Abraham had the wisdom of wise counselors. We will need this as well.

Similarly, Scripture calls us to at times go with others to restore a brother in sin. Consider Christ’s directions in Matthew 18:15–17:

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Christ said we should at first go by ourselves to speak to a brother in sin. If he doesn’t respond, then we should bring one or two others. If he still doesn’t respond, then it should be brought before the church. If he still doesn’t respond, then the church should separate from this brother. By doing this, they are lovingly disciplining him so he can see the severity of his sin and repent.

The problem with many restoration projects is that people are not willing to challenge or subsequently separate from believers in rebellion, who choose to continue in sin. Listen to what Paul says about how we should treat a brother living in sin that will not repent:

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat (1 Corinthians 5:9–11)

However, the primary point we want to focus on here is the need for others to be involved in the restoration process. Yes, at times, it is wise to first go and speak to a brother alone, especially if we know him or her well. But after that we must seek further help from the body of Christ. Abraham, not only had his 318 men but also an alliance with three other likeminded men who helped save his nephew.

Who are your alliances? Who are your partners in ministry? Who are the ones that you seek counsel from in order to best minister to someone struggling? Who are the ones that you seek for help when the situation is too difficult for yourself? If we are going to perform rescue missions, we must have godly alliances.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced church discipline? How can we practice this ministry in a loving way that promotes the health of the church and the health of an erring brother or sister?

To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Use Wisdom

During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. (Genesis 14:15–16)

Observation Question: What wise tactics did Abraham use to defeat the four armies from the east?

As mentioned, Abraham used wisdom to defeat these four armies. We see this in several ways. (1) He attacks at night while they would be resting. (2) He divides his men to surround the camp. (3) And he pursues them for a great distance, which would have kept them from regathering their forces for a counterattack.

This is true for believers as well. Rescuing fallen brothers is a dangerous mission and, therefore, calls for great wisdom. We see this type of wisdom used throughout the Scripture when followers of God fell into sin. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband, the prophet Nathan did not just show up and directly challenge David about his sin. He used great wisdom. He comes up with an elaborate scenario of a rich man who took a poor man’s only lamb and killed it for dinner, which greatly angered David. Then it was revealed that David was the man (2 Sam 12). He used great wisdom.

How can we use wisdom in ministering to those fallen into sin?

Application Question: In what ways can we use wisdom in ministering to those who have fallen in sin?

1. We use wisdom by seeking the counsel of other mature saints.

This was mentioned before. Abraham probably sought the counsel of his alliances before attacking the four kings of the east. Similarly, we must seek wise counsel. Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” This is war terminology. Every nation has a department of defense. It is there that the generals, other advisors, and the president gather to make wise war-time decisions. Scripture says many advisers make victory sure. It can also be translated there is “safety in the multitude of counselors.”

Again, rescuing a brother that has fallen into sin is dangerous. Spiritual forces are involved, and it can often negatively affect the entire church. This is a decision that many times needs the counsel of wise saints.

2. We use wisdom by discerning who might be most effective in restoring a person in sin.

Often in restoring a fallen brother, the person that knows him best may be the most effective in reaching him. A person with no prior relationship might actually push the person further away from God. This is something to be discerned.

3. We use wisdom by speaking the truth in love.

Ephesians 4:15 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” The manner of this ministry is very important. If we only have truth, we can hurt people and push them away from Christ. What we are saying might be true, but the way it is presented can at times be destructive. A wise person ministers in a loving manner. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” Our manner of ministry is very important. We must have truth, but it must be presented in a loving manner.

4. We use wisdom by discerning the heart of the person in sin.

We must discern if this person is open to receive correction or if he is not. Christ said this in Matthew 7:6, “Do not cast your pearls before swine.” There were times when Christ had opportunities to minister to people and try to restore them to God, but he said nothing. When Herod was trying to get Christ to do a miracle, he said and did nothing (Luke 23:9). Wouldn’t this have been a great chance to share the gospel with the king? Absolutely not. Herod had no interest in following Christ as Lord; he only wanted to see the miracles (v. 8). Christ would not cast his pearls before pigs. A pig cannot properly evaluate a pearl. He will step on it, roll on it, and even play with it in the mud. It is pointless to waste such a valuable jewel on such an animal. Christ said there are some people like that.

How do we know when our attempts at restoration will be totally wasted on a person like casting pearls before a pig? Most times, we won’t be able to know this until we have tried to restore the person. Listen to what Paul said to Titus: “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:10).

Paul said if you have warned him twice and he still won’t respond, have nothing to do with that person. He is self-condemned. There is a point when the wise believer stops offering the pearl. He is not ready to receive. At that point, we may need to step away from them, pray, trust God, and wait for his heart to be ready.

Application Question: What are some other aspects of wisdom that can be helpful in ministering to those caught in sin? Share a time when you saw or experienced wisdom being used to restore a fallen brother or sister.

To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Guard Ourselves from Temptation

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” (Genesis 14:18–24)

Interpretation Question: Who was Melchizedek? What does the narrative and the rest of Scripture teach us about him?

After the victory, the king of Sodom and the king of Salem, Melchizedek, came out to meet Abraham. Melchizedek brings wine and bread and speaks to Abraham first. He says, “‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’” Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness” and Salem means “peace.” He was the priest of God and, at the same time, king of what would later become Jerusalem. Even though he is only mentioned a few times in Scripture, he is considered a great man. In Psalm 110:4, David prophesied that the future messiah would not be a priest in the order of Aaron but a priest from the lineage of Melchizedek. Christ is both a priest and king—two lines that were always kept separate in Israel.

Melchizedek, the priest of God, discerned that this victory was not something Abraham could have done in his own power. That is why he blessed “God Most High.” The source of this victory was clearly divine (cf. Prov 21:31). Abraham implicitly agrees with the assessment. We know this because Abraham gave a tithe to God by offering it to Melchizedek.

It must be noted that Abraham did not say, “Hold up! What about me? I am the one who led the army!” No, he agrees with Melchizedek. God was the one who won the victory.

After this time of worship to God, as Melchizedek prayed and Abraham gave a tithe, the king of Sodom approached Abraham. He asked for the people taken from his land and offers Abraham all the spoils (v. 21). This would have made Abraham even wealthier. Sodom was known for its great wealth in the ancient world (cf. Ezek 16:49–50).

However, even though Abraham would have had great wealth, he refused the king of Sodom’s offer. He says,

I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’

Abraham knew that God had promised to make him great, and he didn’t want the king of Sodom stealing God’s honor. It seems that the reason Abraham does not accept the wealth is not only because he is trying to protect the honor of God, but also to protect himself from temptation. The prosperity of Sodom was the very thing that caused Lot to fall into sin in the first place. Also, if Abraham accepted the king of Sodom’s riches, he would be indebted to him, and he did not want any alliances with the world. In fact, it must be noted that the king of Sodom’s name is Bera (cf. 14:2) which means “gift”⁸ and Sodom means “burning.”⁹ Those who accept the gifts of the world will not leave unscathed.

This is important for us to hear because ministering to those caught in spiritual slavery is again a very dangerous ministry. It comes with many temptations. Abraham was tempted to be proud. Where the king of Salem sees God in this victory, the king of Sodom only sees Abraham. He is not a believer, and he does not see the divine hand on this victory. Abraham also was tempted with the riches of this world, the very temptation that landed Lot in slavery and later caused him to lose everything.

Many times when ministering to a brother caught in sin, the very temptation that a brother is enslaved to will become a temptation for us. The one who is caught in a cult, exposes others to the teachings. The one caught in sexual sin often exposes others to lust. Sometimes, even just listening to the details of a sinful act becomes a form of temptation.

Rescuing people caught in spiritual slavery is sometimes like trying to help someone drowning in water. The person drowning, often to save themselves, will cling to the rescuer in such a way that it could potentially drown him. This happens all the time in rescue ministry. In fact, there is a temptation for the person caught in sin to only see the rescuer and not God. This can lead to codependency—an unhelpful helping relationship—which can at times suffocate those in a rescue ministry.

This ministry brings many temptations. That is part of the reason Paul calls for the spiritually mature to be the ones who do it. Consider again Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

One of the things we must be careful of in rescuing a fallen brother is the many temptations that come along with it.

Application Questions: In what ways can we protect ourselves from temptations associated with rescuing fallen brothers or sisters?

1. To stand against temptation, we must be strengthened by other godly brothers and sisters.

In this narrative, by God’s grace, Abraham meets with the priest of God, Melchizedek, before encountering the king of Sodom. Again, Melchizedek blesses God in this narrative and calls him the “Creator of heaven and earth” or it can be translated the “possessor of heaven and earth” (v. 19). The priest reminds Abraham that not only did God win this battle for him but that God owns all things. In fact, when Abraham replies to the king of Sodom, he uses the same title. He says, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath” (v. 22).

It seems that Abraham still had the influence of the priest on him, when encountering the temptation from the king of Sodom. After being strengthened by the priest, Abraham boldly rejects the great wealth of Sodom. We also should continually have times of prayer, encouragement, and accountability from other likeminded brothers while performing rescue ministry.

2. To stand against temptation, we must practice sacrificial giving.

After being blessed by Melchizedek, Abraham immediately responds by giving a tenth of everything (Gen 14:20). It seems he is not giving a tithe of the spoils since he did not accept any wealth from the king of Sodom. Therefore, he must have given a tithe of all his wealth. Abraham was very wealthy; therefore, this would have been a very generous tithe.

This is an important principle for us as well. The more sacrificial we are with our wealth, our time, our career, and our plans, for the Lord, the less of a grip the world will have on our hearts. The temptations of this world will be minor to a man or woman that gives as generously as Abraham (cf. 1 Tim 6:17–18).

However, those who will not take up their cross, those who have no sacrifice in their lives are more susceptible to the temptations of the world, because the world has a tight grip on their hearts. Their focus is their time, money, friends, and plans—instead of God’s time, money, friends, and plans. In order to stand against temptation, we must sacrifice. We must be people who take up our cross daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23).

3. To stand against temptation, we must continually make commitments to God.

Abraham committed to God that he would not take any of the king of Sodom’s wealth (Gen 14:22). This is important to hear because earlier in chapter 12, Abraham accepted great wealth from the pagan king of Egypt, Pharaoh. See, Abraham had failed previously in this area. That is probably why he made a commitment to God.

Sadly, often when Christians fail, they declare that they don’t want to repent or make a commitment because they know they will just fall again. I’ve met Christians who didn’t want to go to a retreat, a purity pledge, or a discipleship school because they say, “Oh, I will just get on fire for God, go home, and then flame out.” That is dumb logic. If you fail, you should just re-commit.

This is the process for every man or woman of God. Abraham will fail again. He fails in Genesis 20, when he lies again about his wife. However, this did not stop him from making commitments.

Proverbs 24:16 says, “for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” Seven times is not meant to be a definite number; it is meant to represent many times. The righteous man keeps falling, but he keeps getting back up. The difference between the righteous and the wicked is that the wicked fall to calamity and stay down.

One of the ways we stand against temptation is by continually making commitments to God. Don’t let your failures deter you from making a commitment to God. It didn’t deter Abraham, and he is the father of all those who believe (Gal 3:7). He was a righteous man that just kept getting back up.

What commitments is God calling you to make today?

If we are going to restore fallen brothers, we must guard ourselves from the temptations associated with this ministry.

Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced temptations in trying to help someone caught in spiritual slavery? What are some other ways that we can protect ourselves?

Conclusion

How can we rescue a brother or sister who has fallen in sin?

1. To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Be Separate from the World and Sin
2. To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Be Motivated by Love
3. To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Be Spiritually Trained
4. To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must, at Times, Partner with Other Likeminded Brothers
5. To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Use Wisdom
6. To Rescue a Fallen Brother, We Must Guard Ourselves from Temptation

Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown

The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

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¹ Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (pp. 35–36). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

² Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

³ Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 208). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

⁴ Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

⁵ Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 748–751). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.

⁶ Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 208). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

⁷ Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 787–789). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.

⁸ http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/bera/

⁹ http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sodom/

So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD. Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.” Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13)

How should believers respond in faith to conflict? We live in an age where conflict is everywhere. We see it in society with the constant lawsuits and globally with the never-ending wars. But even worse, we commonly see it in the church. Churches split; the divorce rate in the church is virtually the same as the world; and many casualties in our families are related to these problems.

In fact, when we look at the narrative of Scripture, we see that discord was common among God’s people. Cain did not like his brother Abel. Jacob’s ten sons sold Joseph into slavery. Even in the New Testament, we see a fight in the church of Philippi between two women Euodia and Syntyche. The church of Corinth was separating into religious factions and believers were even suing one another. Paul and Barnabas got into a dispute over John Mark, about whether he should accompany them on a mission trip—leading them to separate and go different ways.

In fact, discord was so prevalent that Paul said this in Ephesians 4:26: “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Paul essentially says that you’re going to get angry, you’re going to have disagreements, but in your anger and disagreements, do not sin because you will give the devil a foothold. Satan works where there is disorder. It gives him a stronghold to continually attack believers from.

Even now, if we look at our relationships and find anger and discord there, we can be sure that the enemy of our souls is at work. Scripture says that God is not a God of disorder but of peace (1 Cor 14:33). Therefore, when there is disorder and conflict, we lose God’s blessing on our lives, our families, our ministries, and our workplace; instead, we open the door for the enemy.

Since, as believers, we will have times of conflict, how should we respond to them? In Genesis 13, we learn a great deal about responding to conflict as we consider Abraham’s conflict with his nephew, Lot. In Hebrews 11, Abraham is listed as a hero of faith—somebody that should be modeled. In fact, Paul teaches in Galatians 3:7 that he is the father of all who believe—he is the father of those with faith. Abraham is someone worth modeling and that is why great emphasis is placed on him in the biblical record. His narrative is in Genesis 12–25; he is mentioned several other times in the Old Testament and in four books of the New Testament (Romans, Galatians, James, and Hebrews).

In this narrative, we learn from the “Father of Faith” about how “faith” should respond when in discord with others. Scripture says that faith is not just the way that we are saved; it should also be the lifestyle of believers. Hebrews 10:38 says, “my righteous one shall live by faith” or “the just shall live by faith.” Faith should affect every aspect of our lives including how we respond to conflict.

What principles can we learn from Abraham about how faith responds to conflict so that we will not give Satan a stronghold and lose God’s blessing? This is especially important to hear because, not doubt, many Christians have lost God’s blessing on their lives, because of discord.

In fact, we should notice God’s response to how Abraham handles this conflict: he reaffirms his covenant promises. Genesis 13:14–17 says,

The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

This is essentially God saying, “Abraham you have done well, and I will surely bless you.” It is the same thing God said to Abraham after he left Haran and came to Canaan in chapter 12. It’s the same thing God said after Abraham won the battle with the raiding armies in chapter 15, and it’s the same thing God said to Abraham before he offered his son as a sacrifice in Genesis 22. Responding properly to conflict brought God’s blessing and affirmation in Abraham’s life. Similarly, how we respond to conflict will affect God’s blessing upon our lives.

In this narrative, we see principles for responding in faith to difficult relationships. We should be aware that these difficult relationships will often be with people close to us: a wife, a husband, a brother, a sister, or a member of the church—just as Abraham’s conflict was with his nephew, Lot. Those who faithfully respond to conflict will receive God’s blessing on their lives.

Big Question: What principles can we learn about responding in faith to conflict, as we consider the conflict between Abraham and Lot?

To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Living in Communion with God

So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD… So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13:1–4, 18)

Interpretation Question: What is the significance of Abraham’s altars mentioned in Genesis 13:4 and verse 18?

Abraham’s altars should not go unnoticed in the story. In the previous narrative, we saw Abraham go down to Egypt (Gen 12:10–20). He decided to not trust in God when he encountered a famine in Canaan. He took things into his own hands. He built no altars to worship and seek the Lord, and consequently, almost lost his wife. In contrast, this narrative is enclosed by altars. After leaving Egypt, Abraham essentially repents of his sin as he returns to the first altar he built in Canaan. Soon after he works out the discord with Lot, he then builds another altar to God in Hebron. The word “Hebron” means communion.¹

From this we can learn a great deal: if we are going to have a faith-filled response to discord, then, we must live in worship—we must live in constant communion with God. In chapter 12, Abraham does not respond in faith when he encounters the famine; he heads to Egypt. But, while in Egypt, his faith is strengthened. He learns that even while he is unfaithful to God, God is faithful to him. God miraculously protects his wife when she is taken by Pharaoh for marriage. In thankfulness and trust to God, Abraham worships at the altar he originally made, and soon after resolving the conflict with Lot, he builds another altar and worships God. This is what enabled Abraham to walk in faith when discord and conflict struck his family.

How can we properly respond to conflict in our lives—conflict with friends, family, co-workers, and church members? We must be people who live in communion with God. We must be a community of worship—not just on Sundays but every day.

In Galatians 5:20, Paul shares what the fruits of the flesh—our sinful nature—are: “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions.” Therefore, to be human means to be in discord. Right after Adam and Eve sinned, Adam by implication blamed God and then the woman. The woman blamed the serpent. Discord was a result of sin. Therefore, many people know nothing of a day without some type of discord with others. It has been part of our human nature since the fall.

However, in the same text, Paul describes how God has given us his Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22–23). One of the reasons that Christ came was to give us his Spirit. He came to restore what was lost in the Garden of Eden. By giving us his Spirit, we can love those who hurt us, be patient with difficult people, respond with gentleness instead of harshness, and have self-control instead of anger. This is the fruit that the Spirit bears in our lives.

How do we gain this fruit so that we can have peace in our relationships? Galatians 5:16 says, “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Each of us experiences a battle between the sinful nature and the Spirit. The acts of the sinful nature bring discord, but the fruit of the Spirit brings peace and fellowship. In order to live in the Spirit, or walk in the Spirit as some translations say, we must live in God’s Word, prayer, worship, service, and fellowship with the saints. We also must faithfully obey the Scripture. When we choose to get up each morning and not fill ourselves with the Spirit of God (Eph 5:18), we become vulnerable to the works of the flesh. We find ourselves angrier, less patient, and even prone to cut people off.

How was Abraham able to respond in faith when encountering conflict? Abraham responded in faith because he was living in the Spirit. He was living in communion with God. He worshiped before the altercation and after it. He was abiding in God, and therefore, the fruit of the Spirit grew in his life.

Are you a worshiper? Are you living in the Word and prayer? If not, you will be prone to the works of the flesh: anger, fits of rage, and discord. Are you living in the Spirit or walking in the flesh? You can tell by your response to those who upset or fail you. We must walk in the path of our father Abraham. Let us worship before the trial and after the trial, for only there will we find the fruit of the Spirit, which brings peace.

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced a propensity towards discord when not living in communion with God? In what ways have you experienced the ability to seek unity when living in communion with God? How is God calling you to live more in his presence?

To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Considering Our Witness to Unbelievers

Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine. (Genesis 13:5–8)

Interpretation Question: What is the significance of the narrator mentioning the “Canaanites and the Perizzites” who were in the land?

Here in this narrative, Abraham had just returned from Egypt with his nephew Lot, and they had become very wealthy people. Pharaoh gave Abraham great wealth for the sake of Sarah, and obviously, much of it was shared with Lot. They had flocks, herds, tents, and herdsmen, and therefore, they weren’t able to stay together. Moses, the narrator, said that the land could not support them (v. 6). Obviously, Moses is not saying that the land wasn’t big enough; he is probably referring to the amount of food available during the famine. If Abraham’s and Lot’s camps stayed together, it would be hard to find enough food.

In addition, Moses chooses to add another bit of information after describing Abraham and Lot’s conflict. He says,

The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. (Genesis 13:7–8 )

The narrator says there were Canaanites and Perizzites living in the land and for that reason, he says “So Abraham said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me’” (v.8). Therefore, it wasn’t just because of the conflict with Lot’s herdsmen that Abraham approached Lot or because of the scarce resources; it was also because of the Canaanites and Perizzites who lived in the land.

This could mean one of two things. (1) It could mean that Canaan is so saturated with the four camps of people (Abraham’s, Lot’s, the Canaanites, and Perizzites) that there was great competition for food. (2) Or it could mean that Abraham approached Lot to fix the problem, in part, because of their witness to the Canaanites and Perizzites.

We must remember that God’s plan for Abraham wasn’t just to make his name great and make him a great nation. God was going to do those things primarily so that “all the nations of the world would be blessed through him” (Gen 12:3). Abraham was called to be a witness of God to the pagans, and one day the messiah would come through his lineage. In fact, if you remember, when he first got to the land he built an altar right next to the “great tree of Moreh” (Gen 12:6). This was probably a pagan shrine where the Canaanites worshiped. “Moreh” actually means “teaching.” Trees were symbols of fertility, so the Canaanites placed shrines in them and used them for worship. This particular tree was probably a place where the Canaanite prophets taught the people. However, Abraham places his altar to the God of heaven and earth right next to their shrine. He was a bold witness who desired for the pagans to know the true God.

At this time, Abraham was one of the only people in Canaan who still worshiped Yahweh God. At the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, we see that the majority of the world was already rebelling against God after the flood. They also had become increasingly polytheistic, worshiping many gods. When Abraham came to town, he started building altars to the one God, the only God, as a witness to the pagans in the land.

One of the reasons that Abraham seeks to fix this situation with his nephew is probably because of his witness. This was perhaps even more pressing on Abraham’s heart after he had failed before Pharaoh and the entire nation of Egypt. When he lied about his wife and Pharaoh confronted him, Abraham had nothing to say. He had lost his witness.

When Abraham returned to Canaan and built the first altar, his initial worship was probably repentance (Gen 13:1–4). No doubt, he repented for not trusting God and also because of his bad witness to the Egyptians. Now, he is motivated to honor God with his witness in the land. Division between him and Lot would only further push the pagans away from God. The Canaanites would say, “They are just like us.” And, it would give them no reason to believe in and follow God.

This is an important concept for us to understand. It should help keep families, marriages, friendships, and even churches together. How we interact with each other will either promote our God or it will disgrace his name. We see this taught throughout Scripture. Consider what Jesus prayed in his high priestly prayer in John 17:23: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Essentially, Jesus says, “I pray that believers will love one another and walk in unity, even when things are difficult, because it affects evangelism.” It affects people believing that God sent Jesus into the world.

The world is always looking at how we relate to one another, and they value Christ not just on how we live individually, but how we live corporately. In fact, Jesus said, “they will know you’re my disciples by how you love one another” (John 13:35). Our relationships say something about Christ, and they also say something about us. Warren Wiersbe said this about the tragic effects of Christian disunity on the lost:

In my pastoral ministry, I frequently visited the unsaved relatives and friends of church members, seeking to interest them in spiritual things, only to discover that they knew about every “church fight” in town.²

Similarly, Ghandi said, "I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

Nonbelievers are always watching and looking for a reason to mock Christians and their Christ. Therefore, when there is a scandal, it is always highly publicized in the news and on the Internet. Our unity is important for evangelism; therefore, this should encourage us to seek reconciliation.

How do we learn to respond in faith to discord? One way is by remembering the importance of our witness to unbelievers. Our unity affects evangelism

Do you think about the lost or other weak Christians when at odds with people in the church? Do you consider your witness and how people view Christ?

Weak faith only considers my pride, my wants, what I think is right, or how bad I was treated. But strong faith thinks about the gospel, other people’s faith, and ultimately, the glory of Christ. How do you respond when there is conflict? What does your response say about your faith?

Application Question: What should be our response to the reality that disunity amidst Christians deters people from the beauty of Christ and the gospel?

1. We should pray for unity in the church just like Christ did.

Christ understood how critically important Christian unity is. Therefore, he prayed for it before he died, and no doubt, he still prays for it today, as our heavenly high priest (Heb 7:25). Similarly, Paul prayed for the Philippians to grow in love for one another (Phil 1:9). He also prayed that the Thessalonians love for one another would overflow (1 Thess 3:12). Are you praying for the unity of the church?

Christ prayed for it, Paul prayed for it, and we should pray for it as well. We should also pray for Christian families. We should pray that the hearts of the fathers be turned back to the children (cf. Mal 4:6). We should pray for God to heal broken families. As we consider the importance of unity to the gospel, we must continually intercede for it as our Lord does.

2. We should seek to reconcile on the basis of our witness.

This is what Abraham did. If we are in discord with others, if we are holding grudges, then we should seek unity because of the Canaanites in the land, who do not believe in our God. The world judges Christ based on how you interact with your husband, your wife, your coworkers, your friends, and your church. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Are you doing your part to forgive and reconcile with those who have hurt you?

Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced disunity in a church, a family, or Christian friends that pushed people away from Christ? How do we help bring healing and restoration to those who have fallen away because of church conflict (cf. Phil 4:2–3)?

To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Focusing on Our Commonality in Christ

So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. (Genesis 13:8)

Observation Question: What reason did Abraham give to Lot for seeking to resolve their quarrel in Genesis 13:8?

In Genesis 13:8, we learn another wise principle from Abraham about how to resolve conflict. He essentially approached Lot and said, “Let’s not fight because we are brothers—we are family.” Abraham sought unity based on their commonality. Because they were family, he essentially said that being in discord was not an option.

However, when there is discord, typically, people choose to focus on their differences rather than their commonalities. We often make comments like, “We just don’t think alike,” “We are from different cultures,” and “We don’t understand one another,” instead of focusing on what is shared. Abraham didn’t say, “We have these differences, so let’s split.” He said, “We’ve got this in common, let’s figure this out in an amicable way.” That is a fundamental difference from the way most handle their conflicts.

We see something similar in what Paul says to the Philippians—a church also having conflict (cf. Phil 4:2). He says,

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1–2)

The word “if” essentially means “since.” “Since you have encouragement from being united with Christ, since you have comfort from his love, since you have fellowship with the Spirit … then make my joy complete by being like-minded … one in spirit and purpose.” Paul says because you have so much commonality in Christ—be one. God did something unique in the life of every believer. We have become one in Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Essentially, Paul says because the Spirit made us one, we must make every effort to live it. “Make every effort” can also be translated “Make haste”—meaning that we should seek unity quickly.³ Paul, later says, in Ephesians 4:26 says that we should not even let the sun go down while angry. We must quickly seek restoration.

This is a principle that has been lost in our Christian friendships, marriages, and churches. We are one and, therefore, living in discord is not an option. For many, it seems they would rather stay at war, move away, or never seek resolution. Thus, many Christians commonly bounce from church to church every time they encounter a problem. We also have many who bounce from friendship to friendship and marriage to marriage.

The church is often a place where we find very little commitment. There are splits over the color of the carpet, the style of worship, and the time worship should begin. The church often struggles with many petty discords and many big ones.

However, just like Abraham, we must seek unity on the basis of our family relationship, which came through our union to Christ and the Holy Spirit’s work. Having peace doesn’t mean that we don’t ever disagree or go our separate ways, but it means that we honor God and keep peaceful relationships, even when it comes to that. We need this mindset back in our churches; we need this mindset back in our families. We are one; therefore, we must make haste to keep the unity of the Spirit.

It has been said that you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. God in his sovereignty chose to unite us as a body and as a family. We are called to treat each person in the church as members of our family. Look at what Paul said to Timothy, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Timothy 5:1–2).

Maybe, you are in conflict right now with another believer and all you can think about is how you disagree with this person or how you can’t believe what this person said or did. In order to have unity, we must choose to focus on, not our differences, but on what we share in common. We are children of God—people for whom Christ died. We have been filled and indwelled with the Holy Spirit. We have been given the same mission to reach the lost for Christ. God has raised us up with him and seated us in heavenly places. We are citizens of heaven and the list goes on and on. We must seek unity based on our commonality in Christ. This commonality is greater than any other earthly commonality, because it is eternal.

Like Abraham, we must seek peace based on our family relationship, our commonality, which ultimately comes from the Lord. Certainly, this principle applies specifically to our Christian relationships, but it can be applied generally to all. Instead of focusing on our differences, we should focus on our commonalities in order to resolve conflict.

Application Question: In what ways should our commonality in Christ encourage us to seek unity? How can we focus on our commonality, instead of our differences, in the midst of discord?

To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Humbly Putting the Interests of Others’ First

So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8–9)

Interpretation Question: Why does Abraham offer Lot the first choice of the land, even though God promised it to him?

We should notice another aspect of Abraham’s response. He humbled himself by giving Lot the pick of the land. See, in the Semitic culture, Abraham was the patriarch—the oldest male and, therefore, the chief. Lot was his nephew, the son of Abraham’s brother. In that culture, Lot had to submit to Abraham. However, Abraham did something uncommon in that culture by giving up his rights and humbling himself before his younger relative.

But not only did Abraham have a cultural right to the best of the land, he also had a divine right. God promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan. However, Abraham still offers the best of the land to Lot. This not only shows Abraham’s humility, but also his faith. In the previous narrative, when Abraham left the promised land and went to Egypt, he tried to protect his family and his interests by his own power and wisdom, as he lied to Pharaoh. However, here he offers the best of the land to Lot, no doubt, in part because he trusts that God is going to give it to him and his descendants in the future. Abraham is not fighting for his rights because he has entrusted them to God.

See, if we are going to respond in faith to conflict, we must learn how to humble ourselves in faith and seek the interests of others before our own.

Most conflict and division are a result of our pride. We fight because we don’t want to give in or relinquish what we think is our right. However, faith doesn’t respond that way. Faith sees any right we have as coming from God, and therefore, God will defend those rights if it is truly his will.

Here, in Abraham, we see a picture of Christ’s attitude. Paul describes this attitude in Philippians 2:3–5:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Christ gave up his rights as a member of the Godhead and took the form of a servant on earth, serving others even unto death. And, we are exhorted to have this mind in us—a humble mind that puts others first and does not grasp for one’s rights.

How do we implement this practically? We do the same thing that Abraham did, as he sought to resolve this conflict; he humbled himself and gave up his rights. He gave up his right as the patriarch and as the one God promised the land to, in order to mend his relationship with his nephew.

Jesus said this in Matthew 5:38–40:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

“Eye for eye and tooth for tooth” was legal terminology from the Mosaic law for fairness. If a person sinned, there needed to be equal compensation given to the person wronged or an equal consequence given to the person who sinned. However, Jesus said that one of the characteristics of the people in his kingdom would be their willingness to humble themselves and give up their rights. Instead of demanding their rights, they would rather turn the other cheek and not only give away their shirt but their jacket as well.

Similarly, Matthew 5:5 says, “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” The meek are commonly perceived as weak, but actually, they are not. They have a great inner strength. Even though they could fight, they instead humbly serve or suffer injustice. Christ could have called thousands of angels at his crucifixion, but instead, he gave up his rights. And consequently, the earth will one day be given to him. It will also be given to those who follow his example.

Paul taught the same thing in 1 Corinthians 6:7 to a congregation that was suing one another. He says, “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” This is a characteristic that we see in Abraham, the father of those who believe. He humbled himself by giving up his cultural right and divine right, in order to mend his relationship with his nephew.

Living for a Heavenly Country

How could Abraham do this, especially, if he knew this land was promised to him? How can we do this with our jobs, careers, and other rights that are so important to us?

Not only was it because he believed God would give him the land, but it also was because Abraham’s heart was ultimately not focused on the earthly land of Canaan but on the heavenly land. The land of Canaan (Israel) is primarily a picture of heaven. Hebrews 11:16 says this about Abraham and others of faith: “Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

It says he was really seeking a heavenly city, the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:22 says how we, as believers, have come to the heavenly Jerusalem where the righteous men made perfect, the church, and the angels dwell. In fact, when we continue to follow the story of Israel under the leadership of Moses, we see that they were called to build a tabernacle according to the pattern of the heavenly one (cf. Exod 25:9; Heb 8:5). God gave Israel a land, a tabernacle, and laws that were all shadows of heavenly realities to make them thirst for heaven and Jesus their king.

Why could Abraham willingly give up the land? It was because earthly Jerusalem ultimately wasn’t his final destination. His sights were set on a heavenly kingdom. Earthly Canaan was just preparation for heaven—a foretaste of it.

It should be the same for us. Why should Christians willingly give up their rights here on earth: humbling themselves, giving up their shirts, and turning their cheeks? It is because this is not our home. The more we have a grasp on our heavenly home, the less our earthly home and its privileges will have a grip on us.

How does faith respond to conflict and discord? Faith responds by humbling itself and seeking the interests of others. Are you willing to humble yourself and seek the interest of others like Abraham and ultimately like Christ? Christ left heaven and its privileges to serve others here on earth.

Are you in discord with family or a friend? Maybe this world and its privileges have too much of a hold on your heart. God is calling you to humble yourself, give up your rights, and live a life of faith—seeking the heavenly country that is waiting for you.

Application Question: What makes it so hard to humble ourselves and seek the benefit of those who have offended us? How can we grow in this practice, especially when in conflict? Share a time when you felt God called you to give up your rights in order to work for unity.

To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Pursuing God and His Blessing

Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13:10–18)

Next, we see that Lot took Abraham up on his offer. He looked around at the land, but instead of focusing on Canaan, the land of promise, he looked at the area of Sodom and Gomorrah. He saw that it was well-watered like Egypt, and he decided to go there instead of staying in the land of Canaan. The narrator said, “Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD” (Gen 13:12–13).

We see that Lot, though a righteous man according to 2 Peter 2:7, chose to pitch his tent near Sodom at the edge of the promised land. As we follow the narrative, he first lives outside of Sodom, even though it was a wicked city, but then he moves into the land in chapter 14. Then, in chapter 19, he is not only living in Sodom but has prospered there. We see him at the “gateway of the city” when the angels enter the land to save him (19:1). This probably means that he became an elder in the city.

Finally, we see that all the riches and prestige he gained was lost when God destroyed Sodom. He also lost his family because Sodom was in their hearts. His wife looked back to Sodom, as it was being destroyed, and she was turned into a pillar of salt. His daughters raped him to have children. Lot’s children were the founders of the Moabites and Ammonites, who throughout Old Testament history were enemies of God. Lot’s decision to choose the world over the things of God cost him everything.

Lot was a righteous man, but he made his decision based on the prosperity of this world. He didn’t choose the prosperity of Sodom over God. Lot thought he could have the prosperity of Sodom and still have the blessing of God. He wanted both.

Sadly, this is true for many Christians. They want to follow God, but they also want the esteem and prosperity of the world. However, this desire for the things of the world often destroys them as well. First John 2:15–17 says,

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

For many Christians, like Lot, their primary focus in life is the world’s prosperity instead of God and his blessing. A person gets offered more money at a company, and they give no thought to the spiritual condition of the company. They don’t ask themselves, “Where can I be more faithful to God?” or “How can I be most profitable for the kingdom?” Many Christians makes their decisions solely based on money and prosperity, and therefore, often find themselves in dry seasons, as they leave their church home, their former ministry, and accountability partners. Lot, though a righteous man, only cared about secular success and not spiritual blessing, and it destroyed him and his family. First Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Yes, Lot’s story is the story of many righteous Christians. Psalm 1 declares a blessing on the one who does not walk, stand, or sit in the counsel, the way, or the seat of the ungodly. Believers can lose their blessings by simply being in the wrong place. Lot wanted the prosperity of the world and lost the blessing that came from God. The promised land did not have the prosperity of Sodom, but it did have the blessing and promise of God.

However, let us shift our focus from Lot to Abraham. Abraham wanted the blessing of God and not that of the world. This is why he could offer Lot the best of the land. In the same way, we must desire the blessing of God over prosperity, if we are going to respond to conflicts with faith.

As mentioned before, it is no surprise that we see God pronounce a blessing upon Abraham right after this discourse. After Lot lifted his eyes and decided on the prosperity of Sodom, God tells Abraham to lift his eyes because the land would be given to him and his descendants. His descendants would be like the sand on the sea shore. Again, God revealed himself and blessed Abraham for his faithful response to Lot. This is the same thing God did after Abraham left Haran in chapter 12 and again in chapter 15 after Abraham heroically defeated a raiding army. Finally, God blesses him again in chapter 22 after Abraham offers his son to God. God was pleased with how Abraham handled the conflict, and therefore, he blessed him and renewed his covenant with him.

So what do we learn about how faith responds to conflict in this section? If we are going to respond in faith, we must seek the blessing of God and not the prosperity of the world.

Application Question: How do we apply this practically—desiring the blessing of God when we encounter conflict?

Consider 1 Peter 3:7: “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

Why does Peter tell husbands to treat their wives with respect in this passage? He says so that their prayers would not be hindered. Essentially, he tells them that, when in conflict, they must focus on the blessing of God. He says live at peace so you will receive God’s blessing, which is answered prayer.

I’ll be honest. I’ve been in arguments with my wife where I didn’t feel like reconciling. I didn’t feel like apologizing, but I would remember this verse and feel compelled to get right. I didn’t want to lose God’s blessing over my life or my family’s life.

There are many families where God does not hear their prayers because they live in discord. All that the family members see is their prosperity and their rights, and not God’s blessing. They live by sight and not by faith.

Psalm 133 says the same thing:

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Does this mean God gives eternal life to those who are in unity? No, life forevermore or eternal life simply means a greater quality of life—a life full of God’s blessings. God promises his blessing to those who walk in unity with their brothers. He promises to hear their prayers, anoint their work, and make them fruitful.

There may be some people reading this who have been missing God’s blessing for a long time; their prayers are not being heard by God. God is waiting for them to walk in faith—to seek reconciliation with those who hurt or failed them. And when they do this, he will speak to them clearly again and renew his favor over their lives, as he did with Abraham.

If we are going to respond in faith to conflict, we must keep our eyes on God’s blessing. Discord removes God’s blessing. The blessing of God must be more important than our pride and our prosperity. Lot got what he wanted, but he lost God’s blessing. And, it eventually cost him everything. Many Christians withhold forgiveness and harbor anger towards others, because their feelings and rights are more important than obedience to God and receiving his blessing. Eventually, like Lot, they will lose everything, if they do not forgive and get right with God and others.

Are you lifting your eyes to see your prosperity? Or are you looking in faith at God’s blessing—the blessing he gives to those who walk in unity?

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced a clearer hearing of God’s voice and received his blessing after faithfully responding to conflict? How can we keep our eyes on God’s blessing instead of our prosperity when in conflict?

Conclusion

How should believers respond in faith to conflict and discord?

1. To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Living in Communion with God
2. To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Considering Our Witness to Unbelievers
3. To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Focusing on Our Commonality in Christ
4. To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Humbly Putting the Interests of Others’ First
5. To Respond in Faith to Conflict, Believers Must Seek Unity by Pursuing God and His Blessing

Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown

The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.

Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.

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¹ Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2421–2424). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.

² Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 26). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

³ Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.