Friday | 07 May 2021

Three initiatives toward Abraham

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord directed the sons and daughters of God, saying, ‘Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.’ Isa 51:2. The lessons learned by Abraham and Sarah, as the Lord met them during their lives, reveal the way in which their children obtain the promises of God contained in the Everlasting Covenant. Abraham’s children are those who have received, and live by, the faith of the Son of God. This is the faith that Abraham received when the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield [of faith], your exceedingly great reward.’ Gen 15:1.

Isaiah’s prophetic statement reveals three key initiatives toward Abraham: He called him; He blessed him; and He increased him. Paul, similarly, identified three responses that are fundamental to a person’s participation in the Everlasting Covenant. He introduced these implications of the gospel by reminding the Corinthians of the covenant which God made with Abraham. ‘As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people”.’ 2Co 6:16. Gen 17:7. Paul then wrote, ‘Therefore [1] “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. [2] Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. [3] I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”.’ 2Co 6:17‑18.

When we consider the life of Abraham, we observe that he experienced three distinct seasons of visitation from the Lord. These correspond with the three responses that are necessary for obtaining the promises contained in the Everlasting Covenant. It is important to consider the seasons of visitation in the life of Abraham because the Lord meets us in the same manner.