Good Morning.
This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah. (Genesis 25:7-9)
Before we leave the story of Abraham I feel it is important to, once again, acknowledge that God appointed Abraham as an example and a standard in the life of a believer. Again, we are referred to as the “seed of Abraham” if we are in Messiah (Galatians 3:29). Messiah referred to his works as the appropriate way to live our life in service to the Almighty if we are to be considered “Abraham’s children” (John 8:39). And though, in a sense, we are to follow in the footsteps of Abraham, we must also acknowledge that he was always following in the footsteps of another. One greater than he was responsible for orchestrating his life in such a way that it has become the standard for service to our God. In Isaiah it is written:
“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.” (Isaiah 51:1-2)
All those who would follow after righteousness and serve the LORD are to first look to the Rock from which we came. That Rock, according to Paul, is the Messiah (1 Corinthians 10:4). It is the same rock that Abraham and Sarah — our spiritual parents — were hewn from. So as we look to them for example and inspiration, we acknowledge that, as believers, we have been dug from the same quarry as all those of faith who came before us. Furthermore, being dug from the same quarry hints at the fact that we, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house that is to serve as the abode of the Almighty.
Any of us — all of us — who are willing to submit our lives to the service of God in the wholehearted way Abraham did can be blessed and multiplied just as he was. All who are of faith, including Abraham, were called by the same God, led by the same God and sustained by the same God. Today we look to that Rock for the confidence to continue in our journey of faith, knowing that the One who called Abraham is the One who will finish the good work in us.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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