22 Turning to God from Idols

Why did God choose Abram? 

"And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods." 

Joshua 24:2 KJV

Abram and his father Terah were steeped in the idolatry of Mesopotamia. Due to the longevity of life in those days, Nimrod would likely still have been alive and spreading the mother child cult throughout the known world. The name Ur actually meant fire and would suggest that form of worship which required human sacrifice. The offerings of infants into the fires of Molech pervaded Mesopotamia and the lands that Abraham and his seed were promised.

We know that Abram first encountered the living God while he was still in Mesopotamia (Acts 7:3,4). As a result of this encounter, he believed the promise that God would give him a land to dwell in. 

Now there appeared to be a pattern to Abram’s character that is being revealed. According to Rabbi Forman based on the 'midrash' or ancient jewish commentaries, Abram choose Sarai for a wife even though tt was known that she was barren. 

Yet when we compare this thought to Gen 18:11,12 it suggests that as a result of her old age “it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.” (Menopause). A further observation that this is linked to her old age is that this is said of Sarah and not Sarai. Her name change occurred when she was ninety years old. (At the same time that God confirmed His promise to Abram, now Abraham, that he would be a father of many nations). 

Nevertheless, it still may be possible that the end of her menses occurred many years earlier, perhaps even before she and Abram were married. If this were true, it would suggest something about Abram's character that he recognized his half sister's plight and so took it upon himself to marry her for her welfare and protection even if it meant being childless.

We see a similar evidence of Abraham's tendency to put others before himself. A time came for he and his nephew Lot to separate so that their herdsman would not quarrel over grazing land for their flocks. Abraham deferred to Lot to make the choice of land.

Given these hints of Abraham's disposition, it suggests that the pagan practices of human sacrifice may have become repulsive to him. It has also been suggested that the death of Abram's older brother Haran was not prevented and may have even been caused by the grotesque worship toward the Mesopotamian gods.

So Abram's encounter with the one true God showed Abram a continuing city free of human sacrifice and death (Hebrews 11: 8-10). This was a welcome respite from the suffering caused by human allegiance to these tyrannical gods.

We learn from Abram that the experience of faith is not compulsion but attraction. The Apostle Paul would later call this this turning to God from idols. Notice that such faith as his is not a turning from idols to God. This is compulsion or legalism. 

Abram was not forced to turn from his idols, but he chose to turn to God whose power and compassion are far greater than worldly gods. He had been given a vision of Messiah’s day and rejoiced in the love of the Eternal Son (John 8:56) 

Having believed God, it was counted to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) This experience of receiving God's righteousness is what Peter calls ‘partaking of the divine nature’. (2 Peter 1:4) We learn that as a result of his faith Abram was given a glimpse of that Jerusalem which is free. (Galatians 4:26) This is the liberty of the Spirit in contrast to the bondage of religion.

One of my favorite writers of a past era is C.H. Mackintosh. He writes:

"This nature…He graciously guides by the precepts of His holy Word, applied in power by the Holy Spirit. He also animates it by the presentation of indestructible hopes. He reveals, in the distance, “the hope of glory” - “a city which hath foundations” - “ a better country, that is, a heavenly” - the “many mansions” of the Father’s house on high…”a kingdom which cannot be moved”

Is our Salvation conditional or unconditional? What is the one requirement for salvation? 

Just as Abram had to acknowledge that God alone is good, so do we have to move in faith “to God, from idols” Does this one requirement change an unconditional salvation? The reformed Christian community says that the Abrahamic Covenant is conditional because it requires acting in faith. 

Rather than being attracted to God from idols, they contend that saving faith binds us to turn from idols to God. Rather than a persevering work of the Spirit of God to effect change in us, they hold that the perseverance of the saints is an outworking of faith by us. This shifts the responsibility of staying saved onto the Christian.

This was not Abram's experience. God's gifts and calling are without repentance. (Romans 11:29; i.e. God will not fail to keep His promises) It was not Abram's perseverance that accounted for God to pronounce Abram as righteous. Rather, it was God's promise to keep Abram and his descendants as heirs of the land where God has chosen to place His name.

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine." 

Isaiah 43:1

Just as Israel is secure as God’s special creation, so is the Christian secure as a new creature in Christ. Abram's faith did not start a new religion among mankind, he started a new relationship for mankind that bestows upon the believer a new nature of righteousness. 

Again, C.H. Mackintosh elaborates:

"How different is all of this from the legalist’s notion! Instead of calling upon me to educate and manage, by the dogmas of systematic religion, an irremediably corrupt nature, in order that thereby I may surrender an earth that I love and attain to a heaven that I hate. He, in infinite grace and on the ground of Christ’s accomplished sacrifice, bestows upon me a nature which can enjoy heaven and…Himself the unfailing spring of all heaven’s joy.”

Abram's faith began a relationship with the one true God that promises blessing mankind with a new nature and restored earth through God's promised seed.  

The challenge to each of us is to turn to God from idols. Is there a moment in your life that you have taken God at His Word and simply trusted in Jesus Christ for eternal life? 

If not, it can happen right now...All that is required is that you turn to Him and trust Him to change you.

smc

21 Connecting to the Land

In the last post, we began to consider the unconditional nature of the covenant that God made with Abram. He pulled Abram out from idolatry and gave him assurances that these promises of land, seed and blessing cannot be annulled. 

As further evidence of the unconditional nature of these promises, we see that the promises are restated even with Abram’s incomplete obedience.

In Genesis 12:10-20 we read that after coming into the land of Canaan, Abram sought refuge in Egypt due to a famine in Canaan. He had been promised all of the land in Canaan and yet he journeyed into Egypt fearful of his livelihood in Canaan. Then fearful for their lives in Egypt, he and Sarah conspired to lie to Pharaoh. This caused Pharaoh to evict them from Egypt.

The enemy of our souls and his minions are eager to point out to the unbeliever the contradictions in the believers life. This is especially true when we succumb to the victimhood of fear rather than standing in victory that faith offers. When that happens, it is not unusual to be rebuked by an unbeliever regarding our hypocrisy. Yet, it is often such stinging rebuke that the Holy Spirit uses to cause us to return to God’s Word and His chosen path for us.

In the case of Abram, along with Sarai and Abrams nephew Lot, they returned to Canaan with their families and herds. Lot and Abram eventually separated so that their herdsmen would not quarrel over the grazing land. It was then that God showed the unconditional nature of his promises to Abraham (Genesis 13:14-18). In particular, the land promise was restated.

A Land Owned but not Enjoyed

What we see then is this element of promised land is not nullified by Israel’s disobedience. They will always own the promise but as their history proves they will not always enjoy possession of the land.

It is interesting that name God gave to Adam is so closely connected with the name of land ‘Adama’ in Gen 2:7. Then in Gen 12:3 the promise to Abram is that: “all the families of the 'Adama' shall be blessed” It reminds us of God's purpose to reconnect of man back to the earth from which he came. 

In that regard we see that the nation of Israel is God's chosen conduit to reconnect all of Adam's race back to that purpose for which we are created. By this, we understand that the promise of blessing all of creation is inherently connected to Abram's seed dwelling in the land.

“The biblical witness is that Israel is inconceivable without land, whether in historical or eschatological times.”

Merrill, “A Theology of the Pentateuch,”

 

Satan wants to remove our connection to the land and therefore our purpose. This teaches us that the idea of family ownership of property is more than a capitalist ideal. It is in fact the opportunity that each family has to realize our purpose as blessors of creation.

It is no wonder that the land which God promised to Israel is always contested by the enemy through his control of nation states. The unending war for possession of that land of promise can only be ended when He whose right it is to reign will come to bind Satan (Revelation 20:2) and bring victory to Israel:

"The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. ... The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head." Psalm 110:2, 5-7 KJV

Israel Unfulfilled

This brings us to another element of this land promise given to Abram, Isaac and Jacob: The promises are presently unfulfilled. The presence of Israel in the land today is an example of how God allows man's wrath to praise Him. 

"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." 

Psalm 76:10 KJV

What we are presently witnessing in the chaos of world events is the strong desire of Israel's enemies to destroy her by external attacks. Yet what often fans the flames of these external attacks are the result of internal attacks from those who have usurped Israel's identity.

Can These Bones Live?

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of the whole house of Israel to be like dry bones scattered in the desert.These bones have had flesh and sinew placed on them, but there was no breath in them. That is, they are impossibly gathered with the appearance of life but in unbelief. They are presently without the Spirit of God empowering them in the knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is their Messiah.

When that day of His power comes, all Israel will submit willingly to Messiah. (Psalm 110:3) They will look on that one whom they have pierced and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son (Zechariah 12:10). They will at last confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9) and say He is the Blessed One coming in the name of the Lord. (Luke 13:35)

Until that day comes however the extent of the land promised in Genesis 13:16,17 is yet unfulfilled. (Click on the highlighted link)

There is also a special significance of Zechariah's prophecy concerning Messiah's appearance on the earth. (Zechariah 14:4) The description of His feet touching the mount of olives displays His humanity while the response of land to divide at His presence points to His Divinity. 

His feet will touch on the very plot of land from which He was betrayed. (Luke 22:39, 47, 48) How different is this from when He placed Himself under the control of the satanically motivated Jewish leaders. At that time He submitted to them as God's Lamb. His second appearing as God's Lion of the tribe of Judah will cause His enemies to submit to Him.

Look up Child

When the Promised Seed once again connects to the Promised Land, only then will the Promised Blessings of peace and prosperity be realized.

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward. ... And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be."

Genesis 15:1.5 KJV

Abraham is told to look toward the heavens for a confirmation of the permanence of the promises. Even so, when redeemed sinners pray with an upward look, like faithful Abram, we gain the same assurance that we are partakers of the Divine nature. 

Only those who have placed their trust in God's promised seed, Christ Jesus have received such exceeding great and precious promises: 2 Peter 1:4

In our times of darkness, when it seems that the forces of hell are marshaled against us; when our connection to the land is most tenuous; when our hope of salvation appears most distant, we are counseled to look to the heavens. Lay hold of God's unconditional promise of salvation and preservation unto His coming Kingdom.

"Where are you now, when darkness closes in?...

...Look up child"

Lauren Daigle

"Now it was not written for his (Abram's) sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." 

Romans 4:23-25 KJV

20 Why Support for Israel is Justified.

 

"God’s plan for restoration and a worldwide kingdom is mediated through Abraham via the Abrahamic Covenant; Abraham and the developing people of Israel will be the vehicles for blessing the nations of the earth". (Gen 12, 13, 15, 17, 22). 

Michael Vlatch: He will Reign Forever

Why do many Christians continue to support Israel? 

On the other hand, Why do so many Christians detest the nation of Israel? Much of this hatred is the result of media propaganda along with a willful ignorance of scripture. 

To be sure, there is not a nation on earth, including Israel, that is not infected by nor innocent of promoting this satanic agenda. War crimes and human rights violations are to be condemned in any nation state. Ultimately each nation's leaders are accountable to God for their actions. 

"And (God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;" - Acts 17:26 KJV

There is a satanic, globalist agenda that denies divinely established principles of national sovereignty. The principle of national sovereignty was established in God's covenant with Noah after the flood. It was enforced at the tower of Bab El when God separated people groups by languages. (Genesis 11)

Israel has as much of a right to exist as any other nation state. Moreover, they are more accountable to God than any other nation because Israel is the only people group in all of human history that God Himself has made a covenant with.

This covenant was established with Abram promising land, seed and blessing. This covenant was confirmed by God through an oath. In this oath, God pledged Himself to fulfill it for His own name's sake, independent of man's behavior. It was then designated to be continued through Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac and not through Abraham and Hagar's son, Ishmael.

Furthermore, it was to be passed on through Isaac and Rebekah's son, Jacob and not his brother Esau. The source of all national contention and war in the Middle East is over who owns the right of inheritance of the land.

Christians who detest the nation of Israel, do not seem to understand that their allegiance to Jesus Christ is an allegiance to the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who is the rightful heir to the coming Kingdom of Israel.

From the inception of the church, we see that Israel has made itself an enemy of the church, but this does not in anyway nullify God's promise to one day make the nation of Israel the Kingdom of God on earth:

"As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance." - Rom 11:26-29 KJV

Election is not Selection. 

I think that we get confused about this distinction. When we go to the voting booth, we say that we are electing someone when in fact we are selecting someone. In a fair 'election' the candidate who wins is one who has pledged him or herself to be guided by a set of principles that best express the desire of the majority of citizens.

i.e. Election establishes the criterion for selection. For example, if we elect to believe the principle that abortion is evil, we select the candidate or the issue that supports that elect criteria.

So, even though Israel may presently be an enemy of the church, nothing can change God’s promise that He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God’s election criteria is the response of faith in Himself that Abram made while an idolator in Ur of the Chaldees. 

God’s election criteria is faith that acts on the revelation of God. Before the promises are realized, faith must be personally owned: Abram had to own his faith by turning to God from idols. 

We call this covenant that God made with Abram, unconditional because the fulfillment of it depends entirely upon God Himself. It is God's perfect foreknowledge that allows him to perfectly predestinate events to conform to His perfect purposes.

"For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, ... For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation [is] to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" 

Heb 6:13, 16-18 KJV

What we find in the Abrahamic covenant is that it is unconditionally guaranteed by two immutable things; a promise (Gen 12) and an oath (Gen 15). This is why we can boldly assert that Israel is the only nation on earth that God has personally sworn to uphold and preserve.

In America, we often cite the Mayflower Compact as a national covenant with God to insure religious freedoms when we follow God's Word. Some have also pointed out that the Magna Carta of 1215 A.D. was England’s national covenant with God to likewise insure religious freedoms.

However, these are man’s covenants with God and not God's covenant with man. Their fulfillment is dependent upon national obedience to God's Word. God will honor those that honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30) and He will bless those that bless Israel (Genesis 12:3). However, God has not obligated Himself to preserve any nation like He has obligated Himself to preserve the descendants of Jacob.

When we come to the Abrahamic covenant we find that it is entirely God’s commitment to perform what is promised. We will look at the reliability of that oath in Gen.15 later on but for now we need to see the literal elements of the covenant.

1. Genesis 12:1-3,7 9: Literal, unconditional guarantees of land, seed and blessing.These will form the basis of the sub-covenants: (Mosaic, Davidic and New covenants)
2. Genesis 11:31 If we follow Abrams journey on a map, we see that these are literal places.
3. Calculating the chronology given in Genesis 11:10-27 we discover that Abraham was the 9th generation from Shem. These are literal people

Why Abram?

Why did God choose Abram and not a character like Melchizedek? 

After all, Melchizedek was recognized as King of Salem and Priest of the Most High God. (Gen. 14:18) This man would seem the most likely one to give such promises to.

We don't know what Abram's character was like before he came to faith in God. All that we know for sure is that he was an idolator. God reminds Israel of their lineage: "...your mother [was] an Hittite, and your father an Amorite." Eze 16:45 KJV 

Yet we see that there was the development of a pattern to Abram’s character that appears to be consistent with the godly character that we are exhorted to follow. In Philippians 2:3, we read of such character:

"[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." 

• We know that Abram first encountered the living God while he was still in Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2 - 4) It appears that he was from a wealthy family when God revealed Himself to him. Abram believed the promise that God would give him and his descendants a land to dwell in. 
• Abram choose Sarai for a wife even though she was barren; Gen 11:29, 30 (From Rabbi Forman based on the ‘Midrash’ or ancient jewish commentaries. Compare to Gen 18:11 where it states that Sarai ceased having menses.)
• Abram must have convinced Terah to start out for the land of Canaan because we read that it was Terah that took his family toward the land of Canaan after the death of his son Haran. (Gen 11:31) 
• However, their trip stalled out and Terah had them dwell in a city called Haran, not far from the city of Ninevah that Nimrod founded. Abram deferred to Terah to settle in the land of Haran for a time until Terah was 145 yrs old. (Terah was 70 when Abram was born (Gen. 11:26) and Abram was 75 when he left Haran (Gen. 12:4). Terah would live another 60 years after Abram, Sarai and Lot departed for Canaan (Gen 11:32)
• Later on, we see where Abram deferred to Lot when choosing the lands that they would settle in.

It would seem that God wanted to snatch out one from Satan’s dominion and single him out for blessing. God had given Abraham a nature that desired to be a channel for blessing to others. God chose Abram in order to make him the source of blessing to all of the nations. This was a challenge to Satan’s authority over the nations.

The foundation of Christian faith is the faith of Abram. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. We learn that as a result of his faith:

• He sought a continuing city whose builder and maker is God. (Heb 11:8-16) 
• He had been given a glimpse of that Jerusalem which is above. (Gal 4:26)
• He had been given a vision of Messiah’s day and rejoiced in it. (John 8:56)

We support Israel because our Savior has clearly stated that salvation is of the Jews. (John 4:22) As others have rightly asserted: We do not merely believe that Israel has a future, we believe that Israel is the future. That is because God's Kingdom must come through King Jesus who will one day soon reign from Jerusalem.

Are you ready for that day? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God has appointed the heir of all things and you will be saved.

smc