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Yeah I know I keep asking things no one knows the answer to, including me!
But hey it makes for interesting discussions and it makes a change from the
usual topics of discussion. Plus I’m only a woman and women do tend to fixate on
minor details more than men. Like what shade or lippy is puce and does my but
(notice I used the American word) look big in this. Plus I’m from the UK and we
Brits are all eccentric.
Anyway where were we, oh yes first read this (two versions better than one).
Genesis 17:1-2 NKJV
[1] When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said
to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. [2] And I will make
My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:1-2 AMPC
[1] WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said,
I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect
(blameless, wholehearted, complete). [2] And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge)
between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.
Chapter 17 comes way before Abraham was called to go to the promised land.
Way before Abraham was told his decendents would be like the stars in the sky.
Way before the Hagar/Sarah sorry tale of woe.
Way before the first time God promised an heir to Abraham.
Evan before his name was changed from Abram to Abraham.
Yet here is God saying to 99 year old Abraham “walk before me and be
blameless.”
Incidentally chapter 12 tells us Abraham was 75 when God first called him out.
So 24 years later God is still telling him to walk blameless before God.
Now im wondering why. Do you think that maybe Abraham didn’t really get it
the first time, the previous chapters suggest he didn’t entirely trust God,
although he did trust enough to leave family and country when he was 75.
But then he did try to push through God’s promise and Ishmael was the result.
Is it possible that after 24 years Abraham had given up on the promise, so God
had to remind him of it.
Is it possible that prior to this Abraham was still a diamond in the rough and wasn’t
exactly walking blameless before God.
Is it possible he had just given up trusting.
Is it possible God was just reminding a 99 year old that trusting in Him was still as
relevant now as it was 24 years ago.
One thing I did think, is that it shows we are never too old to start walking with
the Lord. I think it also shows that Abraham was just like us, impatient, lacking
faith, wondering when the blessings promised would actually materialise!
God seemed to know just when He was fully ready though as the name change also
came 24 years later. Maybe it just took 24 years for him to become that man who
fully walked with God and fully trusted.
I think I’m starting to like Abraham more and more, he doesn’t seem so quite super
human any more, just a normal family guy.
But hey it makes for interesting discussions and it makes a change from the
usual topics of discussion. Plus I’m only a woman and women do tend to fixate on
minor details more than men. Like what shade or lippy is puce and does my but
(notice I used the American word) look big in this. Plus I’m from the UK and we
Brits are all eccentric.
Anyway where were we, oh yes first read this (two versions better than one).
Genesis 17:1-2 NKJV
[1] When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said
to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. [2] And I will make
My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:1-2 AMPC
[1] WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said,
I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect
(blameless, wholehearted, complete). [2] And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge)
between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.
Chapter 17 comes way before Abraham was called to go to the promised land.
Way before Abraham was told his decendents would be like the stars in the sky.
Way before the Hagar/Sarah sorry tale of woe.
Way before the first time God promised an heir to Abraham.
Evan before his name was changed from Abram to Abraham.
Yet here is God saying to 99 year old Abraham “walk before me and be
blameless.”
Incidentally chapter 12 tells us Abraham was 75 when God first called him out.
So 24 years later God is still telling him to walk blameless before God.
Now im wondering why. Do you think that maybe Abraham didn’t really get it
the first time, the previous chapters suggest he didn’t entirely trust God,
although he did trust enough to leave family and country when he was 75.
But then he did try to push through God’s promise and Ishmael was the result.
Is it possible that after 24 years Abraham had given up on the promise, so God
had to remind him of it.
Is it possible that prior to this Abraham was still a diamond in the rough and wasn’t
exactly walking blameless before God.
Is it possible he had just given up trusting.
Is it possible God was just reminding a 99 year old that trusting in Him was still as
relevant now as it was 24 years ago.
One thing I did think, is that it shows we are never too old to start walking with
the Lord. I think it also shows that Abraham was just like us, impatient, lacking
faith, wondering when the blessings promised would actually materialise!
God seemed to know just when He was fully ready though as the name change also
came 24 years later. Maybe it just took 24 years for him to become that man who
fully walked with God and fully trusted.
I think I’m starting to like Abraham more and more, he doesn’t seem so quite super
human any more, just a normal family guy.