 Monday: Choosing Abram
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get yourself out of your country, and
from your kindred, and from your father's house, unto a land that I will
show you.
Genesis 12:1
Some stories are amazing. Against all odds, unexpected events occur. Underdogs
prevail. Unlikely heroes save the day. We are at a loss to explain why or
how these things happen. They just do.
The book of Genesis provides a family tree leading up to the birth of Abram.
Then it says that God called Abram to go to a new land. It doesn’t tell
us why. The Hebrew Midrash includes some stories about Abram that reveal
how he came to recognize God and reject idols, but nothing explains God’s
decision. When we think about it, though, are we ever entitled to an explanation
for God’s choices? If we were bold enough to ask God for a justification,
it is likely that we would receive the same answer that Job received when
he questioned God. There is no way to summarize God’s response. Just
read Job chapters 38 through 41. The phrase, “Because I said so,”
really doesn’t capture it.
Perhaps the writer of Genesis understood that we are not entitled to an
explanation for God’s choices. Maybe that is why there is no attempt
to explain it. But even though we don’t know why God chose Abram, we
can still learn from it. We can learn that God makes His own choices for
His own reasons. We can learn that God’s choices lead to blessing. We
can learn that answering God’s call is the only thing that we really
need to do.
On our pilgrim journey, listen for God. Answer His call.
God, I don’t understand you. I know that in this life I can never
really understand you. I was not there when you laid the foundations of the
earth, but I know that you were there. I don’t know how you created
life, but I know that you did. I don’t know why you love me. I only
know that you do. Thank you for choosing Abram for his journey. Thank you
for choosing me for this one. I know that you are on the path that I should
follow. Let me be always open to your calling and obedient to your word.
Amen.
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