Year 7, Day 11: Genesis 11-12

Theological Commentary: Click Here

As we move past the flood account and draw closer to ancient human history, we get a very real perspective of humanity given to us.  I have always appreciated the Bible’s ability to give us an honest perspective of humanity.  These stories are not over-glorified accounts of magnificent human beings who are superior in every way.  These are human beings, flawed as us all.

Let’s start with the tower of Babel.  Here are a group of people who show simple human instinct.  They get together and want to build something with which they can make a monument of what they are doing.  They’ve created a society and a culture.  They set out to build a great tower to proclaim their greatness.  That seems like such a good, human idea.  But it’s not.  god knows that if these people build this monument, they will stay there and try to preserve what they have.  They won’t progress.  They won’t go forward.  They will try to constantly live in the past, contemplating how great they have become.

Then we move on to the witness of Abram’s father, Terah.  Do you hear that it was actually Terah who planned to go to Canaan?  No doubt God called him to go.  But he only got so far. He got to a place that looked nice and became satisfied.  He didn’t go the whole way to Canaan.  He found a place of contentment and stayed there.  That’s also a very human thing to do.

Finally, we hear about Abraham (Abram).  He hears God’s call and makes it the whole way to Canaan.  In fact, he stays there for a while and then heads off to Egypt because of a famine.  But while he’s there, he seeks his own glory and protection.  He lies about his wife.  He treats her like a sister, allowing her to be with Pharaoh and his household.  Naturally, God doesn’t approve and Pharaoh’s household suffers.  Abraham is caught in the act.  He lies to preserve his life and allow himself to prosper.  Again, that’s a very human thing to do.

Do you see what I mean?  These are very human people with human traits.  They aren’t perfect.  They aren’t superhuman.  They are simple people who love God but occasionally make mistakes. But God still continued to be with them, mistakes and obedience and all.

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