1. Genesis 11:27–12:3 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What was the miraculous, strange, and special position to which God brought Abraham?

Genesis 11:27–12:3 (ESV)

27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot.

Abraham became the man without child and without land: he left his native country where he was at home and he and Sarai could not have children.

And then God comes to Abraham with the promise: I will make you a great nation and to your offspring I will give this land (= Canaan) (Genesis 12:2, Genesis 12:7). How is that possible without a child and without land? Abraham only has the promise, the Word of God. That is his only certainty. He has a future only with God. He has to have faith and trust. Hebrews 11:1 says: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

What does this mean for us? Do we have to emigrate and get away from our children? No. Will our ultimate security be in the place we live or the family we have? Our ultimate security will only be in God, in Jesus Christ. That is what we learn from the life and situation of Abraham, our father in faith.