Service and new beginnings

I am sort of skimming through Genesis (to-day is the last day for Genesis; what will July bring us?) and have noticed a few things to comment on. But first, the thought comes that it would be a good exercise to itemise the elements of human nature which Abraham overcame by living what the Glossary to Science and Health classifies him as, namely,

ABRAHAM. Fidelity; faith in the divine Life and in the eternal Principle of being.

This patriarch illustrated the purpose of Love to create trust in good, and showed the life-preserving power of spiritual understanding.

I haven't accomplished that at this time. Perhaps it will become clear at another time. It is always a comfort to know that our questions will be answered some time and some how.

A couple of items from Harper Collins Bible Dictionary:

Abraham's father, Terah, was, according to ancient rabbinic interpreters, a manufacturer and worshipper of idols. (Could this account for Abraham's insisting that his son Isaac not go back to Haran to find a wife, not even to accompany the servant entrusted with that task? Something I had wondered about.)

Abraham was a “Pioneer in faith.”

A testifier at our Wednesday meeting spoke of healings in the Old Testament. She quoted the healing of Sarah of infertility. But there is a small reference to this type of healing before Isaac was born. We recall the story of Abimelech being fascinated with Sarah, who Abraham had claimed was his sister rather than his wife (she was his half-sister). The Bible tells us of an interesting outcome and healing: So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife (Gen. 20:17, 18 N.K.J.V).

That finishes off chapter 20. 

Chapter 21 is triumphant: And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him (verses 1 & 2).

Subsequently, after Sarah's death, Abraham marries again and has six more sons!

We find that Ishmael did indeed have 12 princes (Gen. 25:16).

There is another story of a patriarch claiming that his wife was his sister, this time because he feared for his life when Abimelech as attracted to her. This was the story of Isaac and Rebekah. How about that Abimelech was involved with each of these similar stories!

I love the way people called of God answered, “Here I am.” In Genesis it is Abraham who answers thus when, according to his understanding he was called to sacrifice his son. (See Chapter 22.) What did Abraham have to sacrifice? The belief that he was a personal creator of his son, perhaps.

Then in I Samuel 3:4 Samuel finally answers God's call to service.

And for Isaiah's call to service: “Here am I! Send me.”

I love it.

Joyce Voysey

ED. Maybe we can return to Genesis another time so we can take a good look at Jacob and Joseph's contributions!