If … if you were God, and if … if you were going to give birth to a new nation, one that would be your own, and if … if you were God … wouldn’t you start that nation with a man like Enoch who walked with you? Maybe you’d start the nation with a man like Noah who obediently worked for decades to construct the ark of salvation.
But we’re not God. God’s “thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not (God’s) ways… For as heaven is higher than earth, so (God’s) ways are higher than your ways, and (God’s) thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
So, when God determined to start the Hebrew nation, He called Abraham saying, “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).
Abraham, the patriarch of the Hebrew nation, obeyed God. He left the place of his birth and started the pilgrimage toward the land of God’s choosing.
But who was Abraham?
In Joshua’s final message, he explained. “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the region beyond the Euphrates River, led him throughout the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac…’ ” (Joshua 24:2–3).
Who was Abraham? He was a boy raised in a pagan family, one that worshipped and served other gods. When God called Abraham, he didn’t have a long history of walking with God or working for God.
So why did God choose Abraham? Grace! Just grace! Only grace!
Why did God choose me or you? Grace! Just grace! Only grace!
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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