HAVING LUNCH WITH FATHER ABRAHAM

 

When you go to heaven which person from the Bible do you most want to meet?  God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit not included! My list is very very long… Mary, the Apostles, James the brother of Jesus, Adam, Eve, David, all the Prophets, Moses, Joshua and Caleb, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha and Lazarus, Jabez, the woman at the well, Barnabas and Silas… The list goes on and on. Thankfully, I will have all eternity to meet and talk and be with other saints! What I would really like is if there was a large video-type screen and we could see all the bible played out in real-time and have each person involved narrate it.

And even better would be if I could step into it too.I want to see the land, know the customs, learn everyone’s thoughts, hear how everyone came to faith in Jesus! I always fancied having lunch with Abraham outside his tent! It would probably be hot and full of sand and wonderful dishes like figs, and date honey. I’d be sitting on a big Bedouin rug and probably be able to smell the camels!

The life of Abraham, the father of the Jews and a great believer, intrigues me! Not only the twists and turns of his eventful life but his ever pursuing faith in the one true God!

There is so so much about this man and his life I would like to tell you! About his covenant with God that makes me weep, the way he left his land and followed a God that he had just met and that he and Sara longed for children. I would like to recount the 3 day walk to Mount Moriah with his only son and the terror, joy, and faithfulness in getting his son back. But for right now, let’s talk about his faith!

God made a covenant with Abram (name before he believed). A covenant is a promise, but better than a promise. It is deep and rich and cannot be broken unless by death. God promised Abram that he would be the father of a great nation, that He would give Abram land for eternity, and more.  Abram means “great father”. Abram was this childless man of faith’s name. He was  75 years old when God made these astounding promises to him!

Abram must have really held on to those promises because years passed and no children. He and his wife Sari (her name before God changed it) were well past child bearing years! Decades passed… and yet Abram still believed his God and promises!

The first time the word “believed” appears in the Bible is in Genesis 15:6. Let me set the stage for you…

Abe is closing on 90 or 100 and God appears to him once again. God tells Abram to not fear, that He (God) would be his shield (protection) and that Abram’s reward from God would be very great. (Genesis 15:1)

Abram tells God right away that he is still childless.  Abraham remembered God’s covenant promise to him! Against all human odds, Abraham knows that God is bigger than any small detail, such as being past the age of bearing children. I love this. Abram is reminding God of His promise!!! Abram is persistent!

God then takes Abram outside (was Abe in his big tent with God?) and shows Abram the stars of the sky. I can just imagine it. The dark, dark night sky in the desolate desert…cooled from the heat and sun of the day. Abram wrapping himself in his cloak and stepping out into the night with the heavens filled to overflowing with twinkling stars!

God says to Abram, “Count the stars if you are able to count them. So shall your descendants be”.

Then the Bible tells us something magnificent… “Then he (Abram) believed in the Lord and He (God) reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Gen 15:6).

Abram believed that God was going to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky! He believed that God was who He said he was and was able to do what He said He was going to do. And his belief was reckoned, an accounting term, or put on his account ledger as righteousness or being in right standing with God! Once you are truly in right standing with God you always are! Amazing!

The root word for believe is transliterated from the original Hebrew as “Emunah” said “em-MOO-hah”. It is translated as “believe” in English or “pistis” in Greek. But “Emunah” carries a much deeper meaning! To believe or “pistis” is to assent to a factual statement. Or to agree to the truth of something.

The kind of belief that Abram had was an “Emunah” belief. It was an “Emunah” belief that lead God to change Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of a great nation”. This old childless man whose name meant great father now became Abraham the father of a great nation!

Abraham “Emunah”. It is much more encompassing word than our meaning of belief. It has the same broad meaning as when God calls us to have faith (belief) in Him. If we only believe that there is a God that does not credit us as righteous. James 2:10 says. “the demons believe in God and shudder”. We see the demons during the time Jesus walked on earth calling Him the SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. They knew who He was. They believed in God but their belief did not win them salvation! Just knowing that there is a God is not “Emunah”.

Like Abraham, we are called to a belief, an “Emunah” belief that sees God and assents to belief in Him and believing thrusts us to a place of repentance. It moves us to live a life for God and not for ourselves. It contains the idea of steadfastness and persistence in our commitment to God. A life of faithfulness!

So, when things get hard… and they will… and it does not seem like God is who He says He is or will do what He says He will do, we “Emunah” with all out heart! We keep on persistently believing and bowing our knee to our God and committing ourselves to Him and Him alone! We will “Emunah” believe and know that HE IS and HE CAN and HE WILL no matter the circumstances!

Yes, when I get to heaven Abraham and I will have lunch and a long, long talk! I have so much to ask him. If you have that “Emunah” belief in Jesus why don’t you join us! We will make it a feast!

This week’s memorization verse:

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

 

 

 

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24 Comments

  1. I love Sunday school at StoneGable! Can you imagine how Zacchaeus felt when Jesus told him to come on down from the Sycamore tree? I think I would love to hear Zacchaeus account firsthand.

  2. Kathy bruns says:

    You certainly gave me hope that things I believe in are not false and faith Is so important. Thanks for the insight.

  3. Betty in Arlington says:

    I have always enjoyed Abraham and Sarah’s encounter with the three angels brought to us by Andrei Rublov’s icon “Hospitality of Abraham” http://www.janvanbiezen.nl/icon/abrahamx.jpg
    (Genesis 18:1-15): Three angels appear to Abraham and Sarah.  They treat their three visitors with great reverence, and prepare a meal for them.  You have probably seen an icon of these three angels seated at the table; this icon is a representation of the Holy Trinity! The guests are described simply as three men, but when Abraham talks to them, they respond as one (“they said”).  The Lord appeared to Abraham, but when he looks to see who is there, he sees three men.  Three men speaking as one–God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  At other times, only one of the angels speaks to Abraham and he is referred to as “Lord.”
    In the icon, the angel in the center is referred to as Lord Jesus Christ.  In iconography, it is traditional for Christ to be depicted wearing a red undergarment, with a blue garment over the top of it (red representing His divinity, and blue His humanity).  In the icon of the Hospitality, the center angel is also wearing red with blue.

  4. Betty in Arlington says:

    I have always enjoyed Abraham and Sarah’s encounter with the three angels brought to us by Andrei Rublov’s icon “Hospitality of Abraham” http://www.janvanbiezen.nl/icon/abrahamx.jpg
    (Genesis 18:1-15): Three angels appear to Abraham and Sarah.  They treat their three visitors with great reverence, and prepare a meal for them.  You have probably seen an icon of these three angels seated at the table; this icon is a representation of the Holy Trinity! The guests are described simply as three men, but when Abraham talks to them, they respond as one (“they said”).  The Lord appeared to Abraham, but when he looks to see who is there, he sees three men.  Three men speaking as one–God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  At other times, only one of the angels speaks to Abraham and he is referred to as “Lord.”
    In the icon, the angel in the center is referred to as Lord Jesus Christ.  In iconography, it is traditional for Christ to be depicted wearing a red undergarment, with a blue garment over the top of it (red representing His divinity, and blue His humanity). 

  5. Yvonne,
    I’m like you! I have a long list of people I want to meet and talk to from the Bible! Oh to hear their stories! I’m hoping too, for a way to see history unfold in realtime! I especially want to watch God create the world; to see it all brand new. I want to talk with Mary and Joseph about Jesus as a child and Paul about his conversion, John about baptizing Jesus, and just so many. I can’t wait! I’ll happily join you and Abraham for lunch!
    Have a blessed week!

    Cecilia

  6. Thank you for my Sunday inspiration. So many thing to ponder. God bless

  7. Inspiring enough to share with others…And I did!! A bright spot on a quiet, gloomy day in Central Florida.

  8. Thank you, Yvonne. I must believe that God is in control and will look after all his children. I love the story of Abraham – can I join you at lunch!?

  9. Barbara Williams says:

    Yvonne, thank you so much for this wonderful time of reflection on God’s servant, Abraham. And thinking about who I would like to visit with in heaven was a little eye opening. You have started my Sunday off on a very good foot! Thank you.

  10. Cecile morgan says:

    So refreshing to read your posts. Someone who is so talented, yet loves JESUS, and knows where her talent comes from. Thank you so much

  11. Thank you Yvonne for this thoughtful message. I am thinking who would I like to chose. There are so many. I love your idea of a cinematic
    Discussion with everyone in the Bible starting, as you did with Abraham and ending with the Revelation author John.

  12. Something weird. Lots of pop-ups?

  13. I would love to talk to Mary! I will have so many questions for her.
    This is the first time to read your Blog and I was not disappointed. Thank you!

  14. That was awesome if more poeople would believe the world would be different . God bless you

  15. It will TRULY BE AMAZING to meet everyone !!!!!

  16. Vicki Sewell says:

    My 22 yr. old son died the night before he was to come home for Christmas break from college. Some friends of his told me a special story that took place a few weeks before he died. They were on a camping trip and ask everyone to tell who they would like to meet when they went to heaven. My Rusty said, ” I would like to meet Noah. I want to know all about how he built that ark .” How I treasure that story. I would have never known he would be talking about that being a college student. Glad he still kept his faith. I miss him so, but it makes me smile when I think about how he drove Noah crazy asking a million questions !

    1. God bless you Vicki! YOu and God have both lost a Son! I cannot imagine. I hope your memories of him are sweet and the Lord sustains you till you are joined again for all eternity!

  17. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says:

    Yvonne, I always enjoy your Sunday posts! Thanks, so much, for all the work that you put into them.

    Heaven is going to be a wonderful place! How wonderful it will be to spend eternity with our Lord and Saviour!

    Blessings! Have a great week!

  18. Norma Rolader says:

    God bless and thank you for all your inspiration Amen

  19. Even though I am a day late in reading your Sunday post I always look forward to it. I appreciate the time and effort and your undying faithfulness to our God and to those who also follow you! Bless you!

  20. Love the thought of seeing Jesus’s story on a big screen while in heaven. You have given me something to ponder on. Who would I like to visit with in heaven! God bless you!

  21. I’m slow checking email. But I’m glad this week, that is a mid week lift. Thank you for your inspiring lessons. Now, I’m off to decide who I would like to have lunch with! Surely we will be able to hear stories from them all!

  22. I’ve read this a couple of times now since you posted it and today, I was reading C.S. Lewis and was reminded of something that stood out to me a couple of years ago about Abraham. “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.” Heb. 11:15 That includes Abraham and Sarah. Doesn’t that speak volumes? I also love what you wrote about righteousness: “Once you are truly in right standing with God you always are!” That really is amazing and takes a lifetime to live in it!