Sometimes I start writing somewhat to expel, and process my situation. Usually I don’t post such rants… I have a lot of drafts that will likely never be completed.

Isa. 51:1-2
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

What do we learn, I wonder, from the great patriarch of the faith, Abraham? I think there are a number of things we could become hitched on, but do you know what stands out to me about this great father of faith?

He was called alone.

Abraham is to us as a shining example – even the father of faith. Through Abraham came the covenant, which would eventually culminate in the coming of Messiah, and the establishment of a covenant which blesses not just Abraham’s physical descendants, but all the families of the earth. I think, perhaps, that this is where we often stop in our contemplations of the faith. But I think that Abraham – the father of the faith, whom God called a prophet – was, himself, the prototype of Christianity.

This is interesting because… Abraham was called alone.

The bible picks up the narrative of Abraham in Genesis 12; we see from the context that his father seemed to be making his way down to the land of Canaan before he died (Genesis 11:31 & 32). The text there gives us very little indication, if any, as to why Terah (Abraham’s father) travelled toward the land of Canaan.

But God spoke to Abraham – alone – and told him to get away from his own country, and from his relatives to the land that God would show him. There is no mention of any church organization, or religious structure that God called Abraham through… rather, God called Abraham to LEAVE everything he was familiar with; even his own kindred (or tribe).

We know in the continuance of the story that Lot, Abraham’s nephew followed WITH Abraham, and that Abraham allowed Lot to follow along. But he had not been called with Lot… he had been called alone. Soon enough, he and Lot would also seperate, as his nephew chose to go to a rich and wealthy region of land, rather than to continue following the pilgrimage of Abraham.

Through the course of Abraham’s life, we see that he lived, and acted in accordance with the personal relationship he had with God. At one point, he paid tithes to Melchizidek, the priest of Salem, but neither did he join himself to Melchizidek’s organization. In fact, I daresay, if he had that he would been re-directed from the flow of his personal walk with God.

Abraham had to be free to follow God in anything, and everything that He called Abraham to do; submitting to a human organization would have hindered that.

Do you know God in a personal way, a way in which He speaks to, and directs you, and you obey whatsoever He directs you to? Please don’t assume I am advocating that you or any turn from fellowship with others, or reject church organizations, or godly advice and accountability. I am not advocating any of those things. I do advocate for walking in the way that Abraham, the father of the faith walked – to know, heed, and obey God’s personal directive, and revelation to us.

Jesus told us in John 15:4 to, quote:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Do you abide in Christ? Are you abiding there now? Before you started reading this post?

Abraham honored the personal presence of Jesus Christ; we can see that in the fruit of his doings because when Jesus came to Abraham, Abraham honored His presence above that of a king (see Genesis 18). By that point, Abraham had menservants and maidservants, shepherds, and even trained soldiers who had been born in his house (Gen. 14:14). Yet, he did not sit with the Messiah when He appeared to him, and command his servants to feed them, rather Abraham took the place of a servant to Christ, and himself made haste to minister to the presence of the Lord when He came.

Abraham was called alone, and he believed God, becoming His friend. <– This is the essence of the Christian faith.

When the same Messiah whom Abraham met, and fed in the flesh came to the earth some thousands of years later, He declared to those whom He had personally called apart to Himself:

John 15:14-16
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Christianity is not some organized religion; yes, I know it has been made into many organized religions… but look to Abraham the father of our faith.

Christ calls us apart to Himself, we are His friends if we do whatsoever HE commands us.

Just as God established a personal covenant with Abraham, Jesus Christ was the mediator of the New Covenant; has established a covenant with all mankind through His death on the cross. You can enter that covenant: that personal relationship like Abraham had the same way that Abraham obtained it: through faith.

God is calling ceaselessly, because He wants a relationship with you, as He had with your father, Abraham. When God calls you alone will you listen? Will you walk in accordance with His revelation to you?

Don’t turn away from godly wisdom or counsel… unless the Lord calls you apart unto Himself – as He did with Abraham.

I wrote a poem you may enjoy: Father’s Secret

But let these words encourage you to walk with God.

John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.