“…the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11:9b
Confusion led to scattering, which led to…nations…people groups–a repopulation of the earth, but now with distinctions. The world was embraced by myriad upon myriads of diverse people. They grew…and filled the earth. The world received these people, but it took on a new meaning–it would be lifted above its Creator, and men would worship the accidents as objects of praise. Man, turns from himself and finds inanimate objects–figments of his imagination–to bow down to and worship as gods. What calamity, what a travesty, what desecration of the Creator’s world. Once again, man has taken that which is good and has made it ultimate. Man has, as Paul said, “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” O, the awful plight of man–his condition remains–his heart is darkened to the things of God, he is a fool. And now, the nations–the peoples of the earth–make for themselves their gods in their own images.
Is there any hope? Is there anything or anyone who can rescue man from another judgment of God? Who will raise up from the ashes of this alien people–this defamed and desecrated people filling and multiplying in God’s established world? Who, will be the shining light in the midst of the darkness, who will create order out of chaos, who, I say, will step forward? Will it be the second Adam, the seed of woman, the snake-crusher? Who will arise and stand against the evil? Who is righteous enough to enter the fray?
“Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan…”
Genesis 11:31a
19 generations after Adam, 11 generations after Noah, and 10 generations after Shem, there comes forth a son, a Semite, a potential snake-crusher and evil-ender–the one, Abram. Light has pierced through the darkness, a laser beam has found its target, the hope of the world wrapped up in one man, but will he be sufficient? Will his life meet the standards of a Holy God? Has he and will he live according to all the precepts set forth by God in order for man to be made right with Him? Will he listen to the voice of God and heed all His commands? His test came quickly, a voice–a clear and articulate voice resounded above the noise and clamor…
“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country…”
Genesis 12:1
What with this Abram? Why him? We know from Joshua 24:2 that…‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.‘ Why this servant of other gods? Why him? Would he heed the voice of God? Would he be ready for the momentous task ahead?
The key–the key element–in the midst of all the pagan worshipping confusion is not whether or not this Abram was an idolatrous man in an idolatrous land, but rather that he was a chosen man. O, the glories and mysteries of a holy God. Chosen before the foundations of the earth. Chosen to be a father to a new nation–a nation that God would Father and love. A nation that would–through this chosen man–be given…“land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
No, no, Abram wasn’t a holy man who wooed a Holy God down from the courts of glory in wonder and amazement at this holy human. No, this was a sinful man that God plucked from the burning and desecration of His world. He was a marked man, a chosen vessel, and he would leave his old world behind and pursue the voice of God…this is the calling of God. It is undeniable, unchallenged, and will not relent. Abram was called, and his call meant complete and utter abandonment of his old life…a new life would begin a life that meant he would have to…
Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house…”
Genesis 12:1
The glimmer of hope once again shines through! Color on the canvas is beautiful amidst the stark black and white of the world–the sinful world.
But, will Abram be the snake-crusher, the evil-ender, the promise for all of mankind–to restore them back to their Creator? To give them rebirth, new life, hope for a City, whose Builder and Architect is God? Will Abram be that man?
We shall see…