Work

• Webb, Barry G.

• 1984-01

• Webb preaches about Abraham's story, starting at the end of Genesis chapter 11. The calling of Abraham is an indication that God had not abandoned the world He had created, acting as along range connection with chapter 1. The short-range connection is with chapter 11, which speaks of the Tower of Babel and the scattering of nations, connected with Abram with a genealogy. Abraham turned his back on all of earthly security and ventured out with his security in God's alone, while the people at Babel depended on earthly materials. Abraham trusted God to make his name great, but the people at Babel wanted to make a name for themselves, and they were cursed while Abraham was blessed. Webb draws attention to how there are two ways to live, Abraham and Babel. Abram's pilgrimage begins with him responding to a reality that confronts him and a God who tells him to go up and out. God's word comes first, and faith is a response to it. God saw a 'yes' in Abram's heart when he looked up at the stars. The inner response is the belief in God's promise, and the outward response is the response of obedience to God's commands to leave, to circumcise his children, and to kill Isaac. Webb emphasises the quality of this obedience - it was not cautious, it was a prodigal, reckless obedience. He did not demand an explanation from God or sufficient information. It was based purely on God's promise and on nothing else. Obedience is faith made visible. Faith without works is dead. The object of the faith is a greater reality than the faith itself. The faith is not always there, for example, going to Egypt and lying about Sarah or having Ishmael in chapter 20. The greater reality is the faithfulness of God. What shines through is the utter faithfulness of God, which Abraham has committed himself to. God blesses Abraham, making him a man of great power and significance, giving him a son in his old age, making his nation great, and blessing others through him. And even when Abraham's faith failed, God protected him and restored him. God remained faithful to Abraham and remains faithful today. When we go to heaven, it will be God's great faithfulness to us and not our own. When we commit ourselves to God, we are secure. There is no need for us to be afraid. God's love and mercy never come to an end, his faithfulness lasts forever. We are kept by the power of God and are secure because God is faithful. His mercies are new every morning, but is your 'yes' to him new every morning as well?

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• https://archives.moore.edu.au/documents/detail/227753 

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