Bible Reading Blog
“A Deliberate Choice”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Genesis 11-12
After the flood, sin immediately reentered the world (Genesis 9.20-27), and spread through subtle, but deliberate disobedience. This is punctuated by the events of Genesis 11. Humanity got together in defiance of God’s purpose for them to fill the earth by saying, ‘let’s stay here and make a name for ourselves’ (Genesis 9.7; 11.4). Because of covenant faithfulness, God would not destroy them as he had just done (Genesis 8.21; 9.15). Instead, he confused their languages, foiling their prideful purposes. Then he made a deliberate choice to choose Abram and make his name great (Genesis 12.2).
This contrast reminds us that God is still in control regardless of what the world is doing. But not only that but God alone holds authorship over all things, and he deliberately makes choices for good. Just as he had in the beginning and after the flood, God ‘created’ something new through Abram that would bless the world. Land, nation, and seed (Genesis 12.1-3) were promises partially fulfilled through the people of Israel, but ultimately realized in Christ. In Christ, we are a people for God’s own possession, seeking the homeland he has promised (1 Peter 2.9-10; Hebrews 11.15-16).
God’s covenant with Abraham is really the beginning of our story with God. Those of faith are called children of Abraham (Galatians 3.7) because we are reborn, according to promise, in the spirit not the flesh (Romans 9.8). Just as Abraham believed God and was considered righteous, so are we (Romans 4.3; Galatians 3.6; James 2.23; cf. Genesis 15.6).
The underlying reality of Genesis 12 is that unless God reaches out, nothing gets better. His deliberate choice is the basis for our hope and redemption. God has a very specific interest in the success of humanity, and he wants more for us than what we want for ourselves. But he also doesn’t leave us in the dark about what he wants. God asked Abraham to do some hard things, but they enriched his life in the present, and blessed his future with hope.
Genesis 12 articulates the logical flow of faith. It starts with God, his promises and realizing that he has a plan (Hebrews 11.1) that is followed by a deliberate choice from us. Either we trust it or we don’t, and that is shown in our action. Because he trusted in God, Abraham made a deliberate choice to obey even though it didn’t always make sense. This is what defines the faithful because it emulates the image of God, in which we were created. Our hearts are often selfish and narrow in understanding. God’s direction can seem unreasonable, even illogical. Like Abraham, we must make a deliberate choice to do what we know God wants. Sometimes we must go. Sometimes we must act. Sometimes we settle in God’s providence. Whatever it is, we must do it deliberately, knowing God knows best.
