Light first purple candle - The Hope Candle
As I write today’s entry in our Advent devotional, I’m visiting the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona with my husband and our youngest daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Luke Danek. Last night we jumped in the trucks with the dogs and drove up to a spot on the rim where sunset views are spectacular. Last night’s display was no exception. Once the sun went behind the far western rim, most of our fellow sunset spectators packed up and left but we decided to stay and enjoy all of the colors as they melted into ink black. We looked up and began to see them pop out from seemingly nowhere. A couple of stars here and there, then more and more of various sizes and brightness until the dark backdrop was magnificently full. Today’s reading gives us a peek at a special sunset scene that the Lord God shares with Abraham, but first, a little backstory on this man who God calls out of seeming obscurity and builds a chosen race from.
Previously known as Abram, Abraham was the son Terah, of the line of Shem. Born in the Chaldean city of Ur, it is likely that Abram’s family was polytheistic, in keeping with that culture. After Abram’s brother died, Terah packed up his entire family and moved far away from Ur and Abram and his wife, Sarai, joined the traveling party. They landed in an area called Haran and lived there until Terah died.
It was then that the Lord God spoke to Abram for the first time and asked him to trust and obey. He said,
“Go from your land,
your relatives,
and your father’s house
to the land that I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation,
I will bless you,
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,
and all the peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3
Abram trusts Yahweh and gathers up his wife and his nephew Lot and they begin traveling to this promised land. Once in Canaan, the Lord God again promises Abram that He will give all of this land to Abram’s offspring, which sounds great, except that Sarai and Abram have no children. They’ve been married a long time, but no kids. Following this promise, there are a series of events orchestrated by God - a famine in Canaan forces the family to spend time in Egypt and Abram’s fear of Pharaoh results in his giving Sarai to Pharaoh as a wife. (If you want to know more about that sordid story, read Genesis 12:10-20)
Upon their return to Canaan, nephew Lot becomes a bit restless and wants to build his own kingdom and not continue to live under the shadow of his Uncle Abram. They part ways amicably, but eventually Lot gets caught up in a war between rival alliances of surrounding kings and Uncle Abram has to come in and save him. Following the victory, a new and mysterious character is introduced: Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness.” This King of Salem, which is possibly a shortened version of Jerusalem, generously provides a meal of bread and wine for the returning victors. He was also priest of God Most High. Although very little is known about Melchizedek, he provides an interesting example of a priest-king linked to Jerusalem. Priest to God Most High, or ‘El ‘Elyon, (Hebrew) there appears to have been an expectation that later kings of Jerusalem should resemble him, as noted by David in Psalm 110:4, “The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: “You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek.” The writer of Hebrews much later will present Jesus Christ, from the royal line of David, as belonging to the king-priest “order of Melchizedek” and therefore superior to the Levitical priests. (See Heb 5:5–10; 6:20–7:17)
And that catches us up to today’s reading of the Lord God and Abram stargazing.
Read Genesis 15
Following Abram’s victory in the Valley of the Kings and his refusal to take anything or anyone as spoils, but instead worshiping the Lord God with Melchizedek, he has a beautiful encounter with ‘El ‘Elyon under the star-studded sky. First, God states that Abram does not need to be afraid because the Lord God will be his shield and will provide great rewards, including an heir from his own body. Abram respectfully asks how God can possibly give him any lasting reward when he is childless and his only heir is a servant? I think it’s important that we not skip over Abram’s questioning of God, as this is the first mention in scripture of a human asking God for clarification or details of His stated plan. The Lord God didn’t respond to Abram’s question with frustration or anger. He didn’t view Abram’s struggle as lack of faith. Not at all! Instead, He took Abram outside his tent and presented him with an object lesson. He said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” (Gen 15:5) Abram looked up at the sky, perhaps started counting stars and quickly realized the impossibility of that task. Then it clicked for him. This God who speaks to me, Who called me from my home and my father’s family, Who has led me to this land of promise and has assured me that He will give it to me and my descendants? I can trust Him! I don’t know how he’s going to do it, but I can’t wait to find out!
“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Gen 15:6)
Sing O Day of Peace (see page 38 for lyrics)
Reflect
Later in the story, but before Isaac is born, God changes both Abram’s and Sarai’s names to Abraham “Father of Nations” and Sarah “Princess” respectively. Abraham laughs out loud at the thought of Sarah having a child together that would result in her mothering the kings of nations. How does Abraham’s laughter demonstrate the intimacy of his relationship with the Lord God?
Has God called you to trust Him in something - a move, a change in careers, a new relationship, leaving behind a beloved church family? Are you able to engage in an honest conversation with Him, bringing Him your fears and questions, even laughter at the absurdity of what He’s asking you to believe? If not, why?
Pray with the Apostle Peter, from his first letter (1 Peter 5:6-11), “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever. Amen.”
