22 MAY
Called to leave
‘Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.’ Genesis 12:1
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Matthew 10:32–39
The Lord called Abraham to leave his father’s house. By this is signified the effect of a gracious call: it will suffer a person no longer to remain in the love and practices of a wicked world, but to separate in these things from their nearest and dearest friends if they walk not in the Lord’s ways—not literally to forsake their houses, but to hold no more communion with them in sin. This is the first visible effect of his call. A change appears in their conversation and conduct. He gives them a sight of the evil and danger of sin, and of his own glory, and thus he makes them willing in the day of his power [Psalm 110:3]. It was doubtless a trial to Abraham’s natural affections to forsake his family, and many of his people have no less trial while they live with them. When a person’s foes begin to be of their own household, when parents or children, the wife of the bosom, or a friend who is as one’s own soul, shall employ all their influence, persuasions, promises, threats, kindness, unkindness, pity and surly turns, to persuade the soul whom the Lord has called, to disobey his call, this is very hard to flesh and blood.
Abraham knew not particulars, but he might be well assured that as the Lord called him he should gain by the exchange. He knew not wither he went, but he knew whom he followed, and therefore he consulted not with flesh and blood. Do you likewise. The Lord whom you serve is able to make you amends.… Go you forth at his command, live upon him for today, trust in him for tomorrow.…
FOR MEDITATION:
His call we obey
No strength of our own,
Like Abram of old,
Or goodness we claim,
Not knowing our way,
Yet since we have known
But faith makes us bold;
The Saviour’s great name;
For though we are strangers
In this our strong tower
We have a good Guide,
For safety we hide,
And trust in all dangers,
The LORD is our power,
The LORD will provide.
The LORD will provide.
SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 22 [3/3], GENESIS 12:1ff.
Milo 