10.28.25 ~ Can I Have it All?

Good morning!

Within God's culture of His people, and the Middle East for that matter, reproducing was essential and a sign of healthy relationships. At the beginning of this week's Torah portion, lech lecha/go to yourself, we are told that Sarai is barren; like a field that can't produce any fruit (Gen. 11:30). At this point in the story, Abram/exalted father doesn't know this reality. However, for our purposes we get to have a glimpse into what only God knows. The land where Abram and his family lived, the Ur of Chaldees was much like modern day America; a land of wealth, prosperity, everything you want and idolatry on every corner. Our "lech lecha' story has Abram receiving a command from God to leave behind his country, kindred and family (Gen. 12:1). Why would He command Abram to do that? And as those who are the seed of Abraham, would He command you to do the same?

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.m (Gal. 3:29) 

They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. (Jn. 8:39)

What on earth and how on earth does God expect me to leave my country, kindred and family? I've got everything I want right here. Why would I be like Abram, a Hebrew/ivri/one who crosses over to the other side (Gen. 14:13)? Doesn't God want me to have the desires/mishelot of my heart (Psa. 37:4)? Enquiring minds want to know :-)

For some of us, speaking of me, myself and I, we need to figure out what our desires really are. In the life of Abram as well as throughout the Scriptures we find that desire isn't really about my lustful passions, but  our desires directs us to think of God supplying answers to our requests that concern Him and His world. Of course, that also involves us, but it does not make us the focus of this promise. And no, this isn't treating God as our "I dream of Genie in a bottle" or our "spiritual Santa Claus". What is at stake here is the fulfillment of those deep requests that reflect the nature of God and His design.

Instead of treating mishelot as our personal checklists, we can read the verse so that it says that God will give us the desires themselves.   In other words, the reference for “desires” is not another external list of things but rather the actual motivations themselves; delighting in God will result in having His desires in your heart. Delight in Him and you will find that who He is becomes your most important desire.

That was Abram! And what did he get out of it? Wealth. Covenant. And a name that over 6 billion people today revere as their 'father' (Muslim, Jew, Christian). The real question that I need to ask myself is, "Am I the seed of Abraham"?

Shalom,
Alan

Last night's zoom call: Am I Abraham's seed? Am I willing to fight for my brother (Gen. 14)?

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