An Earlier Moses
Scripture Reading — Genesis 12:1-3
Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
We’ve been talking about the education of Moses for leading Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Along the way we’ve also seen how Jesus prepared for his ministry of leading God’s people out of the slavery of sin. Today let’s focus on another, earlier education: the education of Abram.
God’s education of Abram is interesting. God called Abram away from everything that was familiar. In the chapters that follow we learn that God sent him to Egypt, where his faith was tested. Later, God opened Abram’s eyes to the full breadth of the promised land. He promised childless Abram countless descendants. In the most dramatic test of all, God asked Abram to sacrifice his only son, Isaac—and then stopped him in his tracks as he was about to obey.
Abram was being trained to be Abraham—the father of many nations (see Genesis 17:4-5). And one nation of descendants in particular, Israel, would be chosen to carry God’s promises to the world. Abram would be their well-trained ancestor, and the lessons he learned about God would be taught again and again to his descendants.
Today Abraham is called “the father of all who believe” in Jesus (Romans 4:11). Are we listening to God’s call in our lives?
Lord, if you want to send me away from everything familiar in order to get my full attention, so be it. If you want me in comfort that unleashes my creativity, so be it. Help me to listen and obey, wherever you have placed me. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — David Den Haan
Pastor Dave Den Haan has served at Fairway Christian Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan, since 1999. Previously he served a church in Minnesota. Dave and his wife, Connie, have three children.
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