FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU
 
I explained in my last article "Separating Truth from Error" that in Genesis 12:1 God commanded Abram to leave Haran which was a stop in his journey to Canaan. I explained that this was a defining point In Abram's life.He was becoming more submissive to God. In like manner when we as Christians become more surrendered with our call from God it is inevitable that we will be more obedient toward God. The two are synonymous with one another.I explained that it was no accident that this vertical call from God was written in Chapter 12 (Governmental Perfection) and given in verse 1 (Unity with God). The call from God was vertical,that is it came right down from heaven to Abram. The command was horizontal to leave Haran (he had to physically move from one place to another) and the 6 promises God gave to him were also horizontal promises. (1) I will make thee a great nation, (2) I will bless thee, (3) I will make thy name great,(4) thou shalt be a blessing,(5) I will bless those that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee,(6) In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.I know there have been many commentaries about Abraham;however the typology and symbolism are not really defined as much as I thought.Maybe I can shed some light on the precepts that the Lord is showing me.
 
First of all I find it very interesting that 6 promises were given to Abram when he was still in Haran. Remember this place represented incomplete obedience.Of course this place was not God's will for his life. Six is one shy short of seven ( the number of spiritual perfection). It has this tone of defeat but very close to success(7). God gave Abram the seventh promise when He reached Canaan in full obedience to God to complete what He had in mind for Abram and his descendants. It is of great comfort to me to know my Savior Jesus Christ is the perfect mathematical God, precise in all His dealings with the universe and me.
 
I want to point out something else that became obvious as the passage started to sift into my spirit. Genesis 12:1-3 is really written in the form of a cross. It first starts out with the command of God (the vertical part of the cross) then the horizontal call and promises are given to Abram(the horizontal part of the cross). There are many reasons Jesus Christ had to die on a cross. I will just give you two. Did you ever notice that in our everyday problems that we have to bear, we breathe physically,mentally,and emotionally as if we are on a cross trying to endure the problems of life? As Christians since Jesus Christ already died on the cross for our sins I Peter 5:7 says "casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." As we breathe enduring our hardships as if we were on a cross remember Hebrews 7:26 says" For such a high priest became us,who is harmless,undefiled,separate from sinners,and made higher than the heavens." Jesus Christ really does understand what we go through and it is comforting to know that according to the Bible we are not even suppose to carry our burdens. We always have to remember that it is because Jesus Christ died on the cross for us.We can only apply this principle because of the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
 
A second reason Jesus Christ died on a cross is because it represents our balance in life.If we are too spiritual with not enough humanity in our ministry then the vertical part of the cross is represented but not the horizontal. If we have too much humanity and no devotion to God then only the horizontal part of the cross is represented.If we incorporate both in our lives then both the vertical and horizontal portions of the cross are represented.It was not by accident that Jesus Christ died on the cross symbolizing the way we should approach God and man.Too much of one without the other will never work and the evidence is to be seen on the cross. Abram received a vertical command from God and then the focus was on the horizontal (His call and the promises that were given to Him).This is a pivotal point to keep in mind. Abram departed in verse 4.Four is the number of creation or the world. I believe in essence Abram saw the cross (the vertical and horizontal),the love of God and he was drawn to obey God by faith.So what I am trying to say is in Haran or the world (Four) Abram was drawn to pursue God's will for his life. The Bible says in 1 John 4:10 "Herein is love,not that we loved God,but that He loved us,and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Abram saw this love and he was so convicted to go to Canaan that there was no hesitation. Unless we see the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ we will not be convicted to do anything for God.The reason why he was convinced is because the love of God was so compelling that at this point he would not have even dreamed of disobeying God.This had more to do with God working in Abram's life than Abram cranking it into overdrive. If we are patient and let God work in our lives God's love will become evident.
 
Verse 5 speaks of their arrival in Canaan.Of course they only finally arrived in the promised land because of God's grace.The number 5 has a consistent meaning of God's grace or Goodness throughout the Bible. In verse 6 and 7 the Bible says Abram arrived in a place called Sichem but it is not until verse 7 (Spiritual perfection or God's completeness)that the Lord appeared to Abram and gave him the seventh promise "Unto thy seed will I give this land." It is very interesting to me that God did not give the 7th promise until he finally arrived at Canaan or the Promised Land and of all the verses to declare it --verse 7. No matter where you are spiritually it should at the very least comfort you a little to know that God is in perfect control. As God was working in Abram's life he felt compelled to make the initiative to worship his Savior.The evidence is in verse 8.The number 8 is the number of New Beginnings." And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent,having Beth-el on the west,and Hai on the east: and there he builded an alter unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord." Beth-el is a place noted in the Old Testament where people of God met the Lord. This is the place where Jacob first became conscience of God. God even challenged him to go back because He desires us to be drawn to Him. Just like He challenged the church of Ephesus to do the same. The church of Ephesus at one point obviously had their personal Beth-el.They met with God regularly and felt His love; however,they lost it because the Bible says "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee,because thou hast left thy first love." Revelation 2:4. The reason why they left their first love is in the pattern and steps of Abram. Lord willing I will certainly go over the second part of Genesis 12 to explain why God on purpose throws heavy trials in our lives. In simple terms it is to refine our faith but it goes much deeper than that. When the church of Ephesus went through these same types of trials they forget about their Beth-el.They lost their first love. Here in verse 8 Abram is driven to draw close to God; however,he had every reason to pursue that at this point.What happens when our life goes sour? I don't know where you are in life but God does desire you to go to  Beth-el because that is where He will renew you through the Holy Spirit and give you a New Beginning (8) by experience. This is our challenge. The question is wherever we are in life do we understand this? It is very interesting to me that the subject of Beth-el separates the two themes of Genesis Chapter 12. The first half of this chapter (God at work in Abram and him stepping out in faith) and the second half of the chapter (trouble).Think about what this means. We can go forward in good times to Beth-el or we can go back in bad times to Beth-el. I am thoroughly convinced the choice is up to us. Lord willing I will go over the symbolism of the bad in the latter part of Genesis chapter 12 so we can understand the big picture of the good and bad and how it relates to God's overall plan.
 
Bob D.