THE CALLED-OUT ONES: ABRAHAM’S SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Spread the love

The Bible tells us the story of Abraham as example of a man called by God from the world. Abraham was the first “ekklēsia” (the called-out one) and was called “the father of those who believe.” His story is not really that different from ours, the Church (Ekklesia). He had struggles and unbelief too, but has many spiritual lessons for all believers today.

Unlike Abraham, Noah’s task was monumental. He was sent forth into a new world after the flood, which he was appointed to govern. His generation marked the beginning of organized social life and law between men. Noah’s calling was to establish order and provide divine instruction to the world, infusing the newly formed society with a moral character under God’s guidance. This was a critical period in human history, a fresh start after the great flood, and Noah was God’s chosen instrument to lead humanity forward.

Genesis 9:1-17 records God’s covenant with Noah, a promise that would shape the foundation of human government and societal order. Through Noah, the world would know divine laws and regulations to maintain moral character. Yet, even with divine guidance, the world quickly turned away from these principles, a foreshadowing of humanity’s persistent rebellion against God’s order.

Unlike Noah, Abraham was called to a life of separation from the world. His calling was not to legislate or govern nations but to turn his back on them entirely. Abraham’s journey was spiritual, his links primarily with heaven rather than the earth. In this, Abraham symbolizes the life of a pilgrim, one who is not anchored to this world but is constantly seeking a higher spiritual realm.

In Genesis 12, God calls Abraham to leave his country, his family, and his father’s house and go to a land that God would show him. This departure marked the beginning of Abraham’s life as a stranger and a sojourner in the world, setting the pattern for all believers who, like Abraham, are called to live by faith and seek the heavenly kingdom.

Abraham is referred to as the father of all who believe (Romans 4:11). Through him, God chose to bless all the nations, not through worldly governance, but by teaching them to seek the spiritual world. His story represents the call to leave behind the worldly systems, to pursue a relationship with God, and to walk by faith. Unlike Noah, whose mission was to establish order within the world, Abraham’s task was to model the life of faith that looks beyond the present world to the eternal promises of God.

Both Noah and Abraham lived in times when the world had largely forgotten God and aligned itself with the kingdom of Satan. Noah’s world was destroyed by the flood due to its wickedness, and Abraham’s world worshiped false gods. In fact, Abraham’s family was no exception, as they too worshiped idols (Joshua 24:2). What set Abraham apart was not his moral superiority or his righteousness, but the fact that God chose him and called him out. This is a crucial spiritual truth: our salvation and calling are entirely from God. There is no reason in ourselves why we should be saved. The difference between the believer and the world lies solely in God’s grace, not in any inherent quality or action of our own.

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, makes this point clear in Acts 7:2 when he recounts Abraham’s call: “The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham.” This divine encounter was the turning point in Abraham’s life, and it’s the same with every believer. God’s call is irresistible, and when we encounter His glory, we must respond.

Abraham’s journey, however, was not one of immediate perfection. Like many of us, he struggled with incomplete obedience. When God called Abraham to leave his family and his father’s house, he left his country but only took part of his family with him. Genesis 11:31 tells us that it was actually his father, Terah, who led them out of Ur, and they only went as far as Haran, where they settled temporarily. This incomplete obedience resulted in a delay in God’s full blessing. Haran, a place of delay, represents the spiritual stagnation that comes when we fail to fully obey God’s call.

It wasn’t until Terah died that God called Abraham again (Genesis 12:1-4). Abraham was 75 years old when he finally fully responded to God’s call, leaving Haran and journeying to Canaan. This illustrates a profound spiritual truth: God’s call is persistent. Even when we falter or delay, God does not give up on us. His grace continues to draw us until we fully surrender to His will.

One key element of Abraham’s calling was separation. Unlike Noah, who was commanded to bring his family into the ark, Abraham was not to bring anyone with him into the purpose God had for him. The lesson here is that God’s calling for Abraham was unique and individual. He was to be a chosen vessel, and his obedience to that call could not be shared with those who were not chosen for the same purpose. This separation was necessary for Abraham to fulfill God’s plan for his life and for the blessing of all the nations to come through him.

As Abraham journeyed to Canaan, he passed through Shechem, which means “shoulder,” symbolizing obedience, and Moreh, meaning “teacher,” signifying knowledge and understanding. These two elements, obedience and understanding, are always linked in the life of faith. Jesus Himself said, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine” (John 7:17). Obedience brings understanding, and understanding strengthens obedience.

Abraham’s journey brought him to a place where his tent was pitched between Bethel, meaning “the house of God,” and Ai, meaning “a heap of ruins.” This represents the believer’s spiritual position in the world. As followers of Christ, we live between the house of God and the ruined world. Our backs must be turned to Ai, symbolizing the world under judgment, and our faces toward Bethel, the dwelling place of God.

The stories of Noah and Abraham illustrate two different aspects of the believer’s relationship with the world. Noah was called to establish order in a new world, while Abraham was called to leave the world behind and seek a heavenly country. Both were chosen vessels of God, but their callings were distinct. In Abraham, we see the model of faith that trusts God’s promises and is willing to separate from the world to follow His call. The journey is often fraught with incomplete obedience and delays, but God’s grace is persistent, and His purposes will not fail.

As believers today, we are called out from the world, just as Abraham was. Our journey of faith requires separation from the values and systems of the world, a wholehearted pursuit of God’s purposes, and an unwavering trust in His promises. Like Abraham, we may falter along the way, but God’s grace will lead us to the place of promise, where we will dwell not in the ruins of the old creation but in the house of God, the fellowship of the redeemed in Christ. Through faith and obedience, we participate in God’s redemptive plan for all creation, bringing heaven’s rule into the earth.