Tedd Pullano
Genesis 12:1-4a

The Call to Journey

Okay, so who out there likes history? Anyone? Because today, looking at our Old Testament text from Genesis, we need to be historians. In order to fully understand this passage, we need to know the history leading up to it. You see, I believe this passage could be the most important passage in all of the Scriptures. Let me repeat that: I think today's passage could very well be the most important passage in all of the Scriptures. As we discover this passage, you will see why I feel that way.

Okay, history: let's start at the beginning: one day God decided to create, so God created the world all that's in it; and then created humans. God was pretty excited to have these companions to spend time with and he had a great relationship with them. Then they got a little big for their britches and what happened (hint: we read about it last Sunday)? Yes, they did the one thing God told them not to do. We call that the Fall - when the awesome relationship between God and people was broken, and people did not have the same access to God as they did before. And that hurt - it hurt the people and it hurt God. Do you have a sense of that? That the fall, the separation of people from God, the tearing of that relationship because of sin hurts God? Because it does. Then after that goof up by Adam and Eve, everything went to hell in a hand basket. Cain kills Abel, things get worse and worse, God does the flood thing, not much changes after that then just before we get to today's passage/piece of history, the people on the earth are starting to get a little crazy. They are building a tower to try to reach to heaven (do we remember what that was called? - Tower of Babel). So, things were not good to say the least. Something needed to be done. And that is where we find ourselves today. Something needs to be done. The world is in disarray, people are being idiots, no one has a good relationship with God anymore (and no one seems to want one). And all this hurts God. So he decides to do something. He begins the process of, the journey to, restoration of that relationship. So God looks around for someone to help him. With today's passage from Genesis, with this guy Abram, God begins a wild ride that will lead all the way from barrenness and separation to the stone being rolled away - to unity, healing and restoration - the day we are looking forward to as we journey ourselves through the Lenten season. This passage begins the process and journey of making it possible for you and me to have a relationship with God that is joyful, fruitful, life giving and life-saving. And that journey involves Abram, the people of Israel and ultimately Jesus Christ.

And amazingly, that process of restoration and redemption, of giving of new life comes from a place of barrenness. Full life and restoration, in essence resurrection, comes out of death. You see, just before we meet Abram in today's passage - the one whose descendants will be as many as the grains of sand on the beach, we are told that he and his wife (Sarai) are barren. They have no children and they cannot have children. Please do not forget that. Please do not forget that the savior of the world, Jesus Christ, came from a lineage, a family tree that began in barrenness. When you in your own life think, "O, God cannot help me, my problems are too big" remember that God started the process of saving the world, of establishing the Kingdom of God, from nothing, from death. If he can do that, our problems are certainly within his reach. So, again, the situation is this: the world is messed up. Sin is rampant, no one is listening to God, people are trying to be like God, people are getting trampled on and hurt and destroyed, the earth is being mistreated and God is visibly upset. So into that situation he decides what must be done - he will choose a family to bring about the Kingdom of God - he will choose someone to bring about a world where we all get along, where everyone has enough and where everyone has a chance. Sounds like a good plan to me.

And God calls on Abram to do this. In our passage today God says twice that Abram's purpose is to be a blessing, and to bless all the families of the earth. God has this vision of a blessed and joyful world, unlike the way it was on that day he called Abram. And he needs to figure out how to get there, so he says to Abram, you are going to be the one who starts this process. From you I start a new family, a new people that will bring my presence, my love, and my hope to this world. Out of you will come my specific, chosen and blessed people and they will be a blessing to the entire world. They will help bring about the kingdom of God that will make this life a great thing. From you, eventually, will come the Messiah, the one who finalizes redemption and brings God and people together again. All of this begins with Abram. The people of Israel, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, Jesus, all come from this one day, this one call to this one guy. Oh, did I mention he was barren? Did I mention that all the kingdom of God was going to come out of the one who could not have children? New life from death. Pretty interesting. Pretty hopeful.

Just reflect on that for a moment as you sit there. All our faith as Christians, all our joy and hope came from nothing. It came from death. It came from barrenness. Please do not forget that. Please do not forget that God can create life out of death, newness out of oldness, healing out of brokenness. Nothing is beyond the reach of God. No matter what you think. No matter what any of us think, God is able to do what God pleases - the Spirit blows where the Spirit wills. I know I said that before, but we cannot hear that enough. That is a big reason we are in this relationship with God. Because that is where healing and life comes from. It does not come from a bottle, or drugs or a nice car or money or ... Healing and life come from God and God alone. All the blessings you have come from God. You need to know that, and you need to recognize that and you need to share that with others.

But there is a reality check in all of this joyfulness. It is found in the first line of the passage: "Go, and leave everything behind - everything. Period. The only things you will have are the things that I will give you. You must choose and learn to rely on me. Do not rely or put your hopes in those other things. Leave them all and trust in me. Me alone. All you will have is me. But, that will be enough." So that is what God says to Abram. This journey will not always be easy - overall it will be incredibly rewarding, but at times it will be incredibly painful as well. But remember - it is not just about you. I have called you not to be a blessing to yourself, but to be a blessing to the families and people of the earth. What you are doing is not for yourself, but for everyone around you. God says to Abram: Follow me. Trust me.

And that is what God says to Jesus. A few weeks ago we read about the baptism of Jesus and last week about Jesus' temptations in the desert. It is out of those two events that Jesus is called and ordained to bring about the final steps of redemption, the final piece that restores people and God in a loving and fruitful relationship. And out of these two events, God says to Jesus, Follow me, Trust me. I have called you for a specific purpose and by you all the families of the world will be blessed. But the journey will not always be easy. It will not always be joyful. It will cost you your family, some of your friends, and ultimately it will cost you your life - in a very painful way. So, I am calling you to this and I am asking you to trust me, to surrender your life to me.

On this second Sunday of Lent, that is where we are as well. As we march to the cross with Jesus, with Abram, we are asked to lay down our lives as well. We are promised a life of joy and a life of fullness and a life of intimacy with God. But it is not without its costs. And it is not without its pain. But it is ultimately the only way to live. Only by surrendering ourselves completely to God and trusting in him to guide us will we be able to live a full life - which includes us being a blessing to all those around us. Truly, when we lay ourselves down to God, when we take the road of trust and following that Abram and Jesus did; when we have that close powerful relationship with God that we carry around with us every day, that is when we can truly be a blessing to those around us, and a blessing to ourselves.