6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. – Genesis 24:6
Babel
According to Genesis chapter eleven, “the whole earth had one language and the same words.” Unfortunately, this common language fueled a sinful passion; to be god.
In their arrogance, the people decided to make a tower to reach the heavens. In so doing they wanted to make a name for themselves. Their self-centered motive didn’t impress God.
To frustrate their plans to displace Him from His throne, God confused the language of the people and dispersed them. Their intentions of a great city, with it’s great tower as a monument to man, were thwarted by their confused language. Their only lasting testimony is their association with the name of their abandoned city. Babel. Confused noise.
Such was the name they “made” for themselves.
It is against this background that we are introduced to a man named Abram at the end of Genesis chapter eleven. God’s dealings with Abram could not be a greater contrast to His dealings with the people of Babel. While the people of Babel illustrate God’s displeasure with sin, Abram represents God’s grace.
Called Out
If Babel’s lust for recognition paints a dark portrait of the ugliness of pride, God’s calling of Abram is a beautiful portrait of the merciful nature of God. Through one vessel, God’s mercy can pour out enough grace to bless all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3). But God didn’t want His chosen vessel compromised. It was necessary for Abram to leave his homeland and his family.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that in faith, Abram left his homeland not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). Although Abram may not have known where God was leading him, Joshua gives us a glimpse as to what he was leaving behind. Idolatry (Joshua 24:2).
God doesn’t like competition, whether in the hearts of the multitude in Babel, or in the heart of an individual in Ur. But after the dangers of leaving sinful man to himself is witnessed in the account of Babel, the hope man needs is revealed in God’s calling out of Abram.
Babel would provide a segue to grace. Confusion would give way to a covenant. But between the confusion and the covenant there had to be consecration.
God did not want Abram in Ur, because there was no room for Ur in Abram. God wants undivided hearts. Abram had to say good-bye to the idolatry of his people.
Isaac
In time, God’s promised child was born to Abraham and Sarah. In their old age they were blessed with Isaac. Finally, they had their own child to embrace and nurture. Finally, they had a son to carry on the family name. God had blessed them just as He promised. But what if God’s blessings become idols in our desperately wicked hearts?
Despite the command to leave his family, the process was apparently difficult for Abram. When he left Ur, his idolatrous father Terah accompanied him to Haran. Abram apparently was content to stay in Haran, until God “motivated” him by taking his father in death. It appears that even for Abram, faith was a work in progress.
If leaving his father Terah was difficult for Abram, how hard would it be to lose his own promised son? Losing him to a natural death would have been difficult enough, but would he be willing to take his son’s life in obedience to God? One way to find out, place him on an altar. Such is what God asked Abraham to do.
As you are well aware, Abraham passed the test. God stayed Abraham’s hand when he raised his knife. Issac’s heart was spared. Abraham’s heart was undivided. But the lesson would not soon be forgotten.
Sarah
At the tender age of 127, Sarah died in the land of Canaan. This was roughly 62 years after leaving Ur with Abram and 37 years after giving birth to Isaac. Abraham and Sarah shared many experiences as they watched the plans of God unfold in their lives. Together they left their families in obedience to God’s command. Together they started a new home despite many obstacles. Now they would be together no more.
Abraham would bury his bride in the promised land. But the death of his bride did not blur Abraham’s understanding of life. One generation passes away and another generation comes (Ecclesiastes 1:4).
The death of Abraham’s wife would give way to the quest for Isaac’s bride. Despite his heavy heart and tear filled eyes Abraham’s hope was buoyed by one truth. God’s covenant did not die with Sarah. Therefore, neither would his faith.
Although his helpmate was buried and his earthly resting place was secured, Abraham didn’t want to see consecration compromised. He was jealous for his jealous God.
See to it
Before his eyes were closed in death, Abraham wanted to see Isaac married. But great care had to be taken in finding a wife for Isaac. The people of Canaan where Abraham and Isaac now live were degenerate. No bride for Isaac could come from them. Rather, Isaac must marry one of his own people.
But allowing Isaac to leave the promised land to find his own wife was not an option. Abraham would have to give instructions to a faithful servant to go back to his own people to get a wife for Isaac. This servant was given the assurance that God would send His angel before him to make his journey successful.
God had commanded Abraham to leave his land and guided him to Canaan. Abraham wasn’t going to risk allowing Isaac to leave the promised land to go back to his family and be tempted to stay there.
Abraham was so concerned with this danger that he warned his servant not once but twice, not to take Isaac back there (Genesis 24:6 & 8).
See to it that you do not take my son back there!
No Going Back
God promised to send his angel to pick out a bride for Isaac and he did. God always keeps His word. Rebekah was brought back to Canaan and became the wife of Isaac. The Bible tells us that in his love for Rebekah, Isaac was comforted after his mothers death (Genesis 24:67). I am sure it did Abraham’s spirit good as well.
You have a lot in common with Abraham. As a child of God, you have been consecrated. You have been called out of the world and made a citizen of heaven. You have a covenant relationship with God. A jealous God who loves you and doesn’t want to share your love.
Abraham knew the danger of going back once called out. God means what He says. When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt just for looking back (Genesis 19:26). Her simple gesture of curiosity was disobedience to God’s direction. “Escape for your life. Do not look back” (Genesis 19:17).
This world is doomed for destruction. It contains nothing that can compare with Heaven. Avoid it’s temptations. Stay away from it’s lures. God has so much more for you. All He asks from you is an undivided heart.
You have been saved from your sins. Don’t go back. Don’t even look back. Revel in God’s grace, not the world mire.
22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” – 2 Peter 2:22