Key Texts: Genesis 12: 1-9; Hebrews 6: 1-3, Ephesians 4: 10 – 16
Supporting Texts: Genesis 11 -26; Hebrews 11; James 3: 14-16
“Good, better, best.
Never let it rest.
‘Til your good is better
And your better is best.”
(St. Jerome)
In my primary school, St. Jerome’s (and other inspirational) quotes were frequently repeated by the children; I am grateful for the exposure I gained to the resilience curriculum present in Jamaican schools. Along with that, the Church and most importantly my upbringing, encouraged me to work hard and aim to be successful, and if possible, chart courses for which there are no reference points.
Though I attended a thriving church school which promoted such essential values and many explicit Biblical principles, I was unaware that some of the quotes or poems we were taught are indeed based on Biblical principles; God desires for us to grow in our walk with Him and fulfil our assignments – He wants us to maximise our potential. We come to faith, believing that God is who the Bible says He is and from that moment, we begin to please Him (Hebrews 11: 6). However, beyond knowing Jesus as our Saviour, the texts indicate that God does not expect us to remain at the level at which we began our faith journey, but to make progress. In addition to teaching us how to be saved, the Word also indicates areas in which we must grow, and these should not be ignored.
In the last three entries, we initially considered Joseph’s transition in stages for a future that he was unaware of (New Testament). Then, we explored transitions which are often harsh and even violent like the Old Testament’s Joseph, whose location changed through the unpleasant plot of his brothers, but later prepared him for one of the greatest roles in Egypt. Last week, through Jonah’s story, the reflection was centred around the delays to our growth when we are disobedient to God; we discovered that in love, He will correct us when we fail to transition. In all three situations, the transitions were catalysts to better for the main characters as well as others, so it is clear that when God provokes transitions, it is for our good, even if the circumstances are rather unpleasant (Romans 8: 28). Likewise, there are transitions, as seen in today’s key texts, in seasons when we would perhaps become complacent but are prompted by the Holy Spirit to embark on new challenges. Like Abraham, we may generally be comfortable in such seasons and any unfulfilled dreams are not detrimental to our survival. (We know that he wanted a son/an heir, but he had hitherto lived a life of faith without one).
In Genesis 12, when God told him to move, Abraham was elderly (75 years old) and surrounded by the familiar (his country/homeland – Ur of the Chaldeans, people, immediate and extended family). Yet, like the Old Testament’s Joseph, he was told to shift geographically without clarity; God instructed him to go to a land which he would show him (eventually!). That’s rather vague! It must have taken much faith for him to believe that as he moved through Canaan, God would reveal more specific instructions to him. All he had was a promise for better, and that was sufficient for Abraham to obey. Interestingly, years before, Abraham’s father (Terah) had set out from Ur of the Chaldeans (with Lot, Abraham and Sarah) to go to Canaan, but he eventually settled in Harran. Terah seemed comfortable and was not desperate enough for Canaan – he died without seeing the land of promise. If we are honest, in some areas of our lives, we do not persist, and settle for our personal Harrans – places of compromise (which are not necessarily evil), instead of working steadily towards our goals or God-given dreams. We know from Genesis 11 that Terah lost his son Haran in Ur of the Chaldeans, and he may have possibly lost the will to continue due to his loss, age, familiarity or mere complacency – either way, he settled for good instead of the best.
Despite Terah’s complacency, God intended to bless His people, so He gave Abraham a command that perhaps his father had also heard. Abraham had seen life in Ur of the Chaldeans, even to the death of his father who lived a full life. Yet, he responded differently to the call for better. Abraham desired a son, and perhaps maintained hope in God for this because his father got his children from the age of 70 – he was a child who was born to an elderly parent. Despite the reason for Abraham’s resilience and faith in spite of the lack of clarity about his future, he had faith for better. Living in tents with no obvious security or permanent home must have been a challenge on the journey to better for Abraham and his family (especially since he had stability prior to that), but with God’s help, he persevered. Though it involved much waiting and times when his faith waivered, (Genesis 12: 10-20; 15: 1-8; 16: 2-6), after God had matured Abraham further, (age doesn’t automatically equate to maturity!), the blessings derived from his response to the call to move were abundant.
1. He built an altar at the great tree of Moreh in Shechem, a place that God promised to the offspring he did not yet see (Genesis 12: 6; Galatians 3: 7-9). Since Galatians 3 states that anyone with faith in our God is Abraham’s descendant, this promise perpetuates!
2. God protected his marriage – He was with him even when Abraham made poor choices on the route to better, due to fear and unstable faith (Genesis 12: 10-20; 20: 1-15).
3. He acquired wealth through livestock, silver and gold (Genesis 13: 1-7). His wealth in the land of Canaan was so copious that it even created conflict between him and his nephew Lot. The text states that he acquired wealth – this is not a ‘prosperity gospel’ but a statement of what happened for Abraham when he aligned his will to God’s. I do not believe that God will bless everyone with wealth, nor that wealth is automatically a sign of God’s blessings! Spiritual blessings are superior by far (Ephesians 1: 3; Proverbs 11: 4) and God’s blessings are manifested in a plethora or ways.
4. God promised him an heir and kept His Word (Genesis 15: 1-5; 18: 1-14; 20: 1-7).
5. God considered him righteous due to his faith (Genesis 15: 6) – God’s approval of us is a blessing and further authenticates our relationship with Him.
6. God shared secrets about his descendants with him (Genesis 15: 12-21). The Word/Amos 3: 6-7 reminds us that God reveals secrets to His chosen prophets (Amos 3: 6-7; Psalm 25: 14-15; Deuteronomy 29: 29; Romans 11: 33).
7. Even after his failures, God pursued and restored Abraham, reminded him of the covenant between them, with the criteria for their fulfilment (Genesis 17) and changed his and his wife’s names to align with the promised He had spoken over their lives.
8. He received tangible blessings from God through Abimelek when he moved to Gerar (Genesis 20: 1-15).
9. God tested his faith and rewarded him for his faithfulness – Abraham was willing to obey God and did not hold his son as an idol (Genesis 21; Genesis 24: 1).
10. In the land of promise, others respected and honoured him for his integrity and the fact that God was with him (Genesis 23: 1-11). He lived to see the fulfilment of God’s promise to make his name great, and as mentioned before, his greatness through God’s sovereignty in the lives of those who accept Jesus perpetuates.
11. (I tried to finish at a neat and tidy number 10, but there is more!). His son Isaac learned from his faith and called on God (Genesis 25: 21-22) – others benefit when we share our faith. Isaac was also blessed because of his father’s obedience – having faithful parents is a huge blessing, even to those children who are not as dedicated to God (Genesis 26: 1-33). I am thankful for a mother who has prayed for me daily throughout my life; her consistent prayers sustain me in every season, especially when my concerns, lack of focus and busyness distract me.
How might we transition to better using nuggets from Abraham’s journey?
Firstly, we must understand the nature of our God. He is mysterious, but elements of his character may be discerned from his interaction with Bible characters such as Abraham; though life was good for Abraham, God promised him greatness and used him to bless his family/people. Again, God does not grant us all tangible blessings for obedience as He did for Abraham; He also blesses us with maturity that enables us to be more like Jesus, thereby preparing us to glorify Him more (James 1: 2-4; 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18). When we seek God in a willingness to transition from mediocrity/average/complacency in our faith and calling, we will experience His presence in a greater way as Abraham did for the final 100 years of his life (God called him to move to Canaan at age 75). God does not love stagnation, and requires us to progress in our walk with Him regardless of age! He is an unchanging God, but His methods do change, and He often requires us to chart unknown territories for His glory. A call to greatness in character or in other tangible ways is a challenge (and often an intimidating one!) from a God with high standards for us, but as seen in Genesis, He will guide and support us along the way. He wants us to mature, and when we have matured, to continue to mature! (John 15). We must cooperate with Him to move from good to better/great. Perhaps you have discerned that you are coasting in an area, or you are called to do greater things with your life. It is often difficult to believe that God will use us in mighty ways and develop our character, but we must trust Him to guide us to better if He speaks to us about it. The desires/dreams/goals we treasure are often given to us by God for His glory (Psalm 37: 4). Seek Him about whatever He has been nudging you about. Read the stories of great men and women (including those in the Bible) and you will discover that many souls were won, innovations birthed and paradigms shifted when someone dared to move from the familiar to the unknown.
Secondly, Abraham’s path to greatness began with a Word from God. We must also draw close to Him so we may discern when He speaks. Like Abraham, we ought to also make quick pivots when God commands us to, even when the outcome is unclear – that is where faith is needed! That is a challenge for me as I have said before, as I do not like surprises. This entry is a challenge to me as much as it is to you! The journey to greatness for those who are called to it requires hope, obedience and steadfastness. Abraham was comfortable, but that inner knowing prompted by God was the foundation for his journey to better. If he had no hope in God, he would have been more inclined to ignore His prompting. Likewise, if he had given up at the first sign of discomfort, Abraham would not have seen the promise.
Finally, when we step out in faith on a Word from God, we must not approach it with preconceived ideas about God’s timing; He will fulfil promises in His time. God honoured every promise to Abraham and still honours His promise to him to date! He was granted favour in every city/place where he stayed in Canaan, whether it was directly from God, or through His use of people (including those who did not serve Him). God will honour His Word to you by any means necessary – believe Him. We are only utterly ‘safe’ when we are in His will. If God calls us to huge challenges which seem insurmountable, those are perfect conditions for Him to work miracles for His glory. If we are unable to make things happen due to the magnitude of our calling, we know who is able to do so! After moving away from the comfortable Harran, Abraham lived in uncertainty for a while, but lived to see the fulfilment of the promises God had spoken over his life when he moved. He can do the same for you through faith.
Again, believing in God’s promise for better is often a challenge (especially when we live functional and comfortable lives), but if He prompts us to shift in any way to experience better, like Abraham, we must move! Equally, God may use discomfort to prod us to transition. In either case, the resulting better versions of us will bring more glory to Him. God does not expect us to think small or surround ourselves with small thinkers, and it is not ungodly to desire more for our lives when (like Abraham) the Holy Spirit plants these dreams within our hearts. It is true that sadly, some only have ‘dreams’ and urges for accomplishments (sometimes even blatantly disguised as ‘ministries’) because they merely covet others’ gifts and crave the spotlight – that is not who this entry is targeted for! Selfish ambitions bring no glory to God – only the selfish, ambitious heart from which they stem, and I pray that with God’s help your thinking will be elevated far above such small thinking (Philippians 2: 3-4; James 3: 14-16). This charge to pursue better is for those who sincerely want to develop character and do exploits which glorify God.
If you have been finding it hard to speak to God and all you can muster is a line or five minutes today, tell Him that you wish to die empty of all He intends you to do. Seek Him for better (characteristics and tangible service for Him whether in a Christian or secular setting as He wills). We may not all have dramatic transitions through means such as betrayal and slavery or dreams like the Josephs in the Old and New Testaments, but whether saved or unsaved, God may call us to significant transitions to honour His name through His still small voice. As seen in Abraham’s story, God begins to get the glory from our initial acceptance of the call to accept Him as our Saviour,and our participation in the processes required for transitions to better. Growth requires us to move from our comfort zones. Listen. Respond in the affirmative like Abraham. Watch God work to help you to achieve the dreams He placed within your heart.
Heartfelt Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word through Abraham’s story. Thank You for revealing that You often call us to better and greatness, even when it is unexpected or challenging. I am sincerely aware that you called me to do better in …, but I struggle to embark on the journey or be consistent. You helped Abraham when his faith waivered; help me to honour You by actively pursuing the resources in Your Word which will help me to be better. I ask that You help me to become the version of me You intended before I was even an embryo. I ask these mercies in Your Son’s/Jesus’ name. Amen.
