However, Abraham,
like
David later, did some horrible things in his life: To start with, Abram
(God changed his name later to Abraham) was told by God to get out from
where he was and go somewhere else. Abraham did not want to go alone so
he took someone with him. God gave him no instructions to take anyone else:.Genesis
12:1,4. But God did not say not to either. Abraham knew that and used
it to his advantage. Good for him! He also didn't ask whether or not it
was ok. Ha! ha! He was no fool in getting what he wanted within the framework
of God's will.
But he does do some things
that reveal his character is much like the rest of us. Abraham lies to
protect himself and gets his wife involved in the little scheme too:.Genesis
12:9-20.
Then Abraham, urged on by
his woman, has sex with her maid and
then this brings its own set of problems:.Genesis
16:1-4.
Then Abraham did not believe
God.(in this regard).when God told him that he, being 99 years old, was
going to have a son:.Genesis
17:16,17.
Abraham lies to protect himself
again. Hey! It worked the first time, so why not he figures. Abraham involves
his woman in it again too and she even goes along with it the second time!.Genesis
20:2-13.(notice
in verses 12 and 13 how Abraham worms around trying to justify himself).
As father Abraham was, so
son is: Isaac does it too!:.Genesis
26:7-17. But God blesses him nevertheless, just as he did Abraham,
Isaac's father. Why? They both, like Rahab
the prostitute, had that higher form of righteousness, that of belief.
Jacob,
Isaac's son, Abraham's grandson, also had an interesting life.
The ancient world was to
be blessed through the peoples that came through the lineage
of Abraham.–.Isaac.–.Jacob.–.Joseph,
the people who believed in God.
The modern world is also
to be blessed through those who believe what it means that Jesus came to
reestablish.(this
time in the physical).a
relationship with God the Father.
I mean, God talked to Abraham
and Abraham knew who it was he was conversing with. Didn't he think that
God would protect him? No! And this even after God had told him:.Genesis
15:1.
After all Abraham did wrong,
it sure took faith to believe
that he was still a friend of God.–.again,
James
2:23.
In spite of all his shortcomings,
God inspired scriptures to be written about him and
why?
The lesson of Abraham is
that doing things apart from what God wants cannot
separate you from Him. There is never a reason anymore to feel
hopeless.
Abraham does trust God that
things will work out the best for his life though and would go to any length
to create peace:.Genesis
13:8,9. He gave the other guy the first choice, seeing God, at least
at this juncture,
guiding things behind the scenes.
About Moses
If you have not seen the
old movie The Ten Commandments, which beautifully follows the story
of Moses.(and
the ancient Israelites exodus from Egypt), you can read
about him here.
Meek
Moses had an angry streak that cost him dearly.
