September 14, 2014: Call of Abraham

Genesis 12:1-9

The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. ² I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing.

³ I will bless those who bless you,
    those who curse you I will curse;
        all the families of the earth
            will be blessed because of you.”

⁴ Abram left just as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. ⁵ Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all of their possessions, and those who became members of their household in Haran; and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, ⁶ Abram traveled through the land as far as the sacred place at Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. The Canaanites lived in the land at that time. ⁷ The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I give this land to your descendants,” so Abram built an altar there to the Lord who appeared to him. ⁸ From there he traveled toward the mountains 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 worshipped in the Lord’s name. ⁹ Then Abram set out toward the arid southern plain, making and breaking camp as he went.

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There’s a great scene in the movie Chariots of Fire that always sticks in my head.  One of the main characters in this movie is talking about an important decision he has to make.  Eric Liddell is a world-class athlete in 1920s Great Britain and he is rising to prominence as a runner. The 1924 Olympic Games are approaching and he has the chance to make the team, represent his country and compete for the Gold medal.  He is also a devoted Christian and feels called to become a missionary in China.  Feeling pulled in two directions at once, Liddell has to ultimately make a choice.

In the scene mentioned above Liddell is speaking to his sister Jenny, trying to describe his dilemma and the decision he has reached. He says, “I believe that God made for a purpose, for China, but He also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure. To give it up would be to hold Him in contempt. You were right, it’s not just fun.  To win is to honor Him.”

Liddell eventually went to China, but before that he took part in the 1924 Olympics and…well, you’ll have to see the movie to find out how he did.

Liddell was able to find PURPOSE for the gifts he’s been given.  In our lesson for today a man named Abram has been chosen by God for a purpose.  God says, “I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing.” He will be given a new name “Abraham” and he will indeed become the “Father of Many Nations.” Today, three important religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) trace their heritage back to them.

Being blessed is rather nice isn’t it? To be give talent, ability, strength, confidence, whatever…is something we usually hope for. But there’s something else about God’s blessing: it’s FOR a purpose.  Abram/Abraham is BLESSED so that he can BE A BLESSING. Like Eric Liddell, so many centuries later, Abram/Abraham has been given a mission to accomplish with God’s help and guidance.  We’ll see this theme of being blessed to be a blessing over and over again throughout the Bible.

Paul says “It is for freedom that Christ set you free,” He also says “…only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence.”  As followers of Jesus Christ we are freed, saved, made-right-with-God for a PURPOSE. It’s always worthwhile to ask yourself, “What’s my purpose here?”

Liddell was able to find his purpose and it gave him strength and meaning.  The same can be true for us.