Genesis 12

I'm turning to Genesis 12. Last week we looked at verses 1 to 3. This week I want us to look at the whole chapter. Genesis 12 verse 8 of the church Bible.

Genesis 12:8

So we got our first gold at the Winter Olympics on Friday night, didn't we? Matt Weston won gold in the skeleton. I hope we just won another gold today. The momentum is slowly building, isn't it?

Think about winning Olympic gold. There's nothing like it, is that? Olympic gold, it's just the pinnacle of sporting glory, isn't it? Your name forever goes down in history. Matt Weston, he already films the headlines. You become a national hero.

But the road to that glory is pretty unglorious, isn't it? We see Matt Weston on the podium with that gold around his neck and all the cheers. But what was the journey to that podium like?

It's all the unglorious stuff that we don't see. It's the early mornings, the early bedtimes, the brutal gym sessions, the lonely runs in the rain, the chicken, rice and broccoli every day.

It's all those Saturday mornings as a teenager, his dad driving him to Sheffield and back, all the training. It's being that nobody for years and years, just hoping for that podium.

The right to glory is pretty unglorious. In fact, it is no glory at all until you actually get there.

And that is just like God's promise of glory here in Genesis. In this cursed and fractured world, God came down to Abraham and laid out his plan of how to save all of this.

He set out his plan to bring this unglorious world to glory.

That's what we saw in Genesis 1-3 last week.

So to a lonely, scattered world, God says, I promise to make a new family.

To a world cast out of Eden, God says, I'm not going to give you a new home.

And to a world under the curse, God says, I'm not going to bless you.

And you see in verse 2, God promises to make Abraham's name great.

This is the promise of glory.

And this is ultimately the promise of glory in the new creation.

That that was what Abraham was being promised.

It was something beyond Canaan, beyond the Middle East, beyond what we can see here.

It is a restored world and a redeemed people, all under the blessing of God in a new creation.

That's God's plan set up right here in Genesis 12.

And it's the plan each and every one of us is longing for.

It's the end of this curse.

The end of sin.

It's the promise to finally belong to God again.

God is promising the podium right here.

But how do we get there?

Well, as we look at what God is doing with Abraham right here in this chapter,

God is showing us how each and every one of us can get there.

You can think of Abraham.

Abraham is like the model of how we come into this family and get to glory.

So last week we looked at the plan.

Now I want us to look at the man.

And like Olympic gold, we are seeing today that the journey to glory is actually pretty unglorious.

And glory, it doesn't just come straight away.

But unlike the Olympics, for those a part of this plan, glory is guaranteed.

There is no disappointing missed gold here.

No.

Glory is certain.

And unlike the Olympics, this glory isn't for the best or for those who have worked hard and earned it.

No.

As we look at Abraham, we see God is calling the unlikely to glory.

So if you want to be a part of God's plan to bless this world, to save it, and undo this curse,

this is how you get to glory.

God is calling the unlikely.

That's my first point today.

God is calling the unlikely.

How does all this road to glory begin with Abraham?

It begins with a call.

That's why.

Now the Lord said to Abraham, go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.

So how is God restoring this world?

How is he undoing this curse and bringing salvation and starting this new family and bringing them to glory?

He's calling.

God speaks to Abraham and calls him into this plan.

And it's a surprising call, in fact.

Because actually, Abraham is one of the unlikeliest people to call at this point.

If you know Abraham, if you know your Bible at all, and you can just have a picture of Abraham in your head,

we know that Abraham, he's a great example of faith in the Bible.

But he wasn't in ways.

At this point, at this call, Abraham is a complete pagan.

In the book of Joshua, it says, it references Abraham, it says, Abraham is worshipping idols when this call comes to him.

He's not a spiritually obvious choice.

And also, look at his age as well, verse 4.

How old is he?

75 years old.

And on top of that, what's his family like?

It's he and Sarah, and they have no children.

He is the least obvious choice to start a nation with.

So it's not like Abraham is the godliest man on earth, and he's young, and he has a big family, and he can grow even more, and he's ready to go.

No.

Abraham is completely unlikely to be part of this plan.

Yet what does God do?

He calls him.

And God says, I'm choosing you, Abraham, to be a part of my plan to save the world.

This is how God brings people to glory.

This is what God is doing in this cursed world.

He is calling the unlikely.

So if you are wanting to know how to get to glory, you need to hear this call.

And Abraham heard this call, and maybe it was audible.

Maybe he heard a voice from heaven.

But if we need to hear this call, where do we hear it?

Where do we hear this call?

Well, this call, it's in the gospel.

The gospel is God's voice into this world.

God's call to a cursed and broken humanity.

A call to be a part of this grand plan.

To have these promises.

The call to be blessed in this new family.

It's the call to glory.

Just think, what did Jesus do as soon as he began his ministry?

He called.

What are some of the first words he says?

Follow me.

And who are the types of people Jesus calls?

It's the unlikely.

It's fishermen.

Tax collectors.

It's sinners.

It's the Abrams that are described.

It's not those who have got their act together with a perfect life.

The obvious shining choice.

No, Jesus calls the undeserving.

It's the unlikely from his calling.

Those are the ones he is calling to glory.

And it's the same call that began with Abraham.

And it's the same call that continues today.

God is calling us today to come and follow his son.

Belong to this grand plan and this eternal family.

Have these promises.

And come and belong to glory.

And you don't need to have your act together.

No, God says, I am calling you.

I am calling you the unlikely.

And for those of us who have heard this call.

We know that's true, don't we?

We see how God has called us into this family.

Promised this glory.

And we know what we were like when God called us.

And we look at our lives and we can't help but say,

I am the least of his choice.

Yet, God calls.

Whatever state your life is in.

If you are in any doubt about this,

just speak to any Christian here tonight.

God really is calling the unlikely.

But the question is, will we follow this call?

And we see it all right here with Abraham.

Abraham.

That this is how you get to glory.

And so wonderfully, the road to glory,

it's not like the Olympics.

It is not about us putting in the hours

and earning glory in my power.

No, you can only reach glory because of God.

Because of his grace in first calling.

God, he could have kept silent.

Abraham could have just kept living his life.

And the curse could have just continued into this world.

And God would have kept silent.

But God spoke and everything changed.

And if you hear God's call and you follow it,

everything changes for you.

And what does God say in his call?

Verse 1.

Go.

Abraham, get up and go.

Go to these blessings.

Go and belong to the renewal of this world.

Go and head to glory.

Go and go.

And so do you see that this call involves something?

This call involves going from something

and going to something.

If you want to get to glory,

we need to see that God is calling us

to go to a world unseen.

That's my second point today.

God is calling us to go to a world unseen.

And did you notice where Abraham was when God called?

Look at the end of chapter 11, verse 31.

Abraham was living in Ur of the Chaldeans.

And this is significant because Ur was a big city hub at the time.

It was kind of the London of the day.

That's where Abraham's whole life was.

And God says,

Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house

to the land that I will show you.

This is the call that he hears.

Go from your people and your life and your comfort and your security

and everything you know.

Abraham, leave that behind and go.

Go to a land that you haven't even seen yet.

And I promise you a people who aren't even born yet.

And I will bless you and make you great.

There will be glory.

But that glory and that greatness,

you won't even live to see.

Abraham, just listen to my voice.

Leave your life behind and go.

Go to a world unseen.

And with remarkable faith, he just goes.

Verse 5.

He takes his wife, Sarah, his nephew, Lot,

packs their bags and he goes.

And what does he go to?

An empty land.

Canaan.

With no greatness.

No people.

In old age, 75, unlikely calination come from him.

The whole thing just seems pretty impossible.

God has promised Abraham a glorious world.

But right now, that world is unseen.

The road to glory is very unglorious for Abraham.

It is a life living with the promise of glory,

waiting for it, hoping for it,

expecting the impossible,

but without ever seeing it.

You might have heard of the 12-year-old Australian boy,

Austin Appleby, in the news recently.

It's an incredible story.

A few weeks ago, Austin and his mum and his two siblings,

they got stranded miles out to sea,

off the coast of Australia,

on their paddle boards.

And they were out there for ages,

in the hot sun,

and they were getting desperate.

And so, Austin,

he swam back to shore to get help.

And so, over the course of four hours,

Austin swam four kilometres

through shark-infested waters in the hot sun,

back to the beach.

He reached the beach,

ran two kilometres to the phone,

called for help,

and saved his family.

And rescuers said,

what he did was superhuman.

And it really is.

Try swimming four kilometres,

in open water,

dehydrated with sun straight.

It is impossible.

He did the impossible.

And just think about Austin's mum

in those four hours.

Four hours of floating,

staring at an empty horizon,

knowing what her son has to do,

and waiting for the impossible to happen.

Well, that's just like Abraham.

He heads to Canaan,

staring at an empty horizon of a barren land,

staring at an empty family,

no glory to be seen,

just floating in the unknown,

and waiting for the impossible to happen.

And that is what God has called Abraham to do.

This is what God's call to glory looks like.

It is a call to go to a world unseen.

And that is the Christian life.

That is what the gospel has called us to do.

That there is a world waiting for us.

Rescue is over the horizon.

And it may all just seem impossible.

We are here just trying to faithfully serve God,

here on this earth,

following the Lord Jesus.

But it all just seems so very un-glorious, doesn't it?

Even mundane.

I'm called to glory,

but look at my life.

I'm just feeling my life changing endless nappies.

I'm promised glory,

but my life, what does it look like?

It's just going to another geography class.

It's sitting at a desk,

eight hours a day,

again and again.

I go to church,

I follow the Lord Jesus,

I know these promises,

but look at my life,

it is far, far from glorious.

God has called us,

yet life just feels small,

and irrelevant,

and pretty mundane,

and that's not even to mention

all the darkness of the Lord.

And the idea of a new creation,

it just seems so far off, doesn't it?

I can't even imagine how that will happen.

I can't even picture how I will exist without sin,

or have a resurrected body,

or not feel pain anymore.

But the idea of Christ returning from heaven,

with his angels,

and that actually to be justice in this world,

and sin to end,

it can almost feel like fantasy,

can't it?

Like we're floating in the ocean,

staring at the horizon,

and it just seems like God has promised the impossible.

But this is when we need to realise what we are called to.

God has not called us to glory now,

God has called us to wait.

Wait,

and trust in his promises,

trust in God,

that though we cannot see that glorious world yet,

we must trust that he is bringing us there.

And so this life,

this life we live now,

this is a life walking by faith,

and not by sight.

So just think of all the ways the Christian life is described.

We're on a pilgrimage.

We're in the wilderness.

We're running a race.

We're in a war.

We're exiled.

We're a bride betrothed to Christ,

but the wedding isn't here yet.

The groom hasn't returned.

So just as Abraham walked the land of Canaan

with no glory to be seen,

just a promise ringing in his ears.

Well, for those following Christ,

we now walk this earth

with no glory to be seen,

or with a promise ringing in our ears,

a promise that glory is just over the horizon.

And that is what faith is.

Faith is not just vaguely thinking something is out there.

Faith is not just a blind leap into the dark.

No.

Faith is knowing there is something unseen up ahead.

Faith is knowing God has told me

that there is a world I cannot see yet,

but he's told me it's coming.

Faith is knowing God's promises are certain,

and faith is clinging to those promises,

waiting for that world to come,

even though I cannot see it,

even though it seems impossible.

And so God calls us today,

leave behind whatever is keeping you

from following Christ.

Leave behind thinking this world is all that there is.

Leave behind a life thinking this world is our home,

and this is where we can find blessing and greatness.

Leave it all behind,

and go to a world unseen.

And God says,

I promise you it's there,

and I promise you it is all yours.

Just by faith,

wait for it.

And how do we wait?

We wait by worshipping.

Did you see what Abraham did

when he reached Canaan?

Verse 6.

He stops at a place called Shechem,

the battle in the north of Canaan.

Verse 7, what does he do?

He builds an altar at Shechem.

And then verse 8,

I'm going to look,

he heads to Bethel in the south,

and again,

builds an altar.

In this empty land,

no people,

no glory to be seen,

just God and his promise,

what does Abraham do?

He worships.

That's what these altars are,

that these are places of worship.

But they are also more than that,

that they are also like

little flags

planted in the ground of Canaan.

It's like in these altars,

God is slowly

claiming the land,

claiming this one little patch,

bit by bit.

And though Abraham can't see it,

as he worships at these altars,

he is recognising and trusting

that one day,

all of this will be claimed by God.

But this is how Abraham

waits for that world unseen.

He worships.

And that is just like us do.

As we worship God

Sunday by Sunday,

here in this room,

we are recognising

that glory is not here yet.

But one day it will be.

But that's what we're doing right now.

We are all here

standing on God's promises,

it's ringing in our ears,

knowing something unseen

is coming over the horizon.

We are gathering as Christ's body

because we know

he will one day return.

And so right now,

God has planted his flag,

his kingdom has already

come into this world,

into our lives.

The flags are here,

and as we worship,

God is saying,

one day,

one day,

one day,

one day,

an unseen kingdom

is going to be seen,

and it's going to fill this world.

And how do we wait for it?

We worship.

But it's not easy,

is it?

So many things

can make us believe

that that unseen world

isn't coming.

We can float in the ocean

and think,

no one's coming back.

I need to do something else there.

And we are not alone

in feeling that

because that is exactly

what Abraham went through.

As we keep following this man

in this chapter,

we see,

yes,

we are called to go

to a world unseen,

but fear keeps us

here in this world.

That's my third

and final point today.

Fear keeps us

in the world here.

This next section

of Genesis,

from verse 10 to 20,

it might have felt

a bit odd

if you read it.

You might be wondering,

what's it doing here?

We get in the plan

and now this story

about Egypt.

But I want us to see

that this section

is Abraham,

out of fear,

doubting all of these promises.

So look what happens,

verse 10.

Now there was a famine

in the land,

so Abraham went down

to Egypt

to such a man

for the famine

was severe in the land.

Now,

where did God say to go

at the beginning

of this chapter?

But where did God say

to wait for the promise

of glory?

It was Canaan.

But a famine

hit Canaan

and Abraham thought,

no,

this isn't right.

God has brought me here

but now I'm just going

to die here

but there's no blessing here.

It's kind of like

Austin's month,

thinking there's no way

Austin can return.

And so out of fear,

what does Abraham do?

He leaves Canaan.

He leaves the promises

behind

and tries to maybe

get to glory

another way.

So he pushes

God's plan

off the table

and he starts

drawing a new one.

What does he do?

What does he say?

Okay,

me and Sarah

will go down

to Egypt.

Maybe we'll find

a blessing there.

And so off they head,

leaving the land

behind.

There's a problem.

That's another.

Abraham knows

that his wife

is very beautiful.

And so he gets

scared

and thinks,

well,

if they know

I'm her husband,

they're just going

to kill me

and take her.

Well,

how about,

we don't say

I'm your husband,

let's just say

we're brother and sister.

Then they won't touch me.

But what happened

when they entered Egypt?

Pharaoh saw

Sebaid

and took her

to be his wife.

And yes,

Abraham did live.

And he even found

blessing with Pharaoh.

Pharaoh gave him

a fortune.

Do you see that

in verse 16?

Sheep,

oxen,

donkeys,

servants,

he gets them locked.

But what's the problem here?

The blessing

is meant to come

through Abraham's

offspring.

And with Sarah

gone,

Abraham's just

shut that off.

If his family

is meant to be

the stream of blessing

into this world,

this is like Abraham

putting a dam

in the stream

and stopping it all.

And so out of fear

and because of a famine,

Abraham abandoned

the land,

abandoned the offspring

and settled

for blessing

with another king.

He couldn't figure out

how that unseen world

could come.

He got scared

and so he settled

for the world here.

And it looks like

a little bit of glory,

doesn't it?

And fear

can have that effect

on us.

When the Christian life

is not just

unglorious,

but it seems like

it's just not worth it

at all.

You know

your promised glory,

but when the heat

of work

just increases,

the heat of school

increases

because of your faith,

or the online mob

starts coming

for our church,

we can think,

oh look,

this isn't right,

this isn't worth it.

This is too much hassle,

let's just settle

in Egypt.

Or we can fear

God has asked me

to give up too much.

Leaving behind

my old life,

it's too hard

and this call

is too much

and it's like

there's just

a famine of joy

in my life.

And we can just think,

what is the point?

I can go and find

happiness

in so many other ways

right now.

And so we walk

away through the

crisis

and we just

settle in Egypt.

It is astounding

at how easily

we can give it all up.

Just out of fear.

But look how God

deals with us

when we do.

Look what he does

with Abraham

verse 17.

He sends a plague

on Pharaoh's house

to make Pharaoh

realise what's going on.

And he does,

doesn't he?

And so Pharaoh

quickly returns

Sarai

and gives Abraham

everything

and sends him

away quick,

going back to Canaan.

And do you realise

what God is doing

here in this moment?

This is God

protecting his promises.

This is God

graciously

dealing with a man

who has walked away.

This is God

calling a man

an unlikely man

filled with

fears

and doubts

and who could have

ruined everything.

And God is

protecting this man

and making sure

he is going

to get to glory.

And that goes

for all of us.

While we are

called to go

by faith

to a world unseen,

we are not

going in our

own strength.

God

in his power

and his grace

he is bringing

all those

whom he is.

He is bringing

us to that

world unseen.

You are not

going alone

as you walk

this earth.

God is

bringing you

there

every step

of the way.

And so you

can have

great confidence

that when God

calls you

and you

trust in

his promises

he will

without a doubt

bring you

to that world.

God is

and we

can be sure

of that

most of

all

because Christ

has already

prepared the

way for you.

Because it

is Christ

who walked

this earth

with a promise

bringing in

his ears

the Father's

promise of a

people to be

his own,

his bride,

the church.

And a promise

for this world

to be all

his kingdom,

the nations

to be his

inheritance.

And the promise

of greatness

that every knee

should bow to

him and all

the blessings

of God

to belong to

him,

that was the

joy that was

set before him.

But on earth

all of that

was unseen.

Instead he

walked this earth

living such

an unglorious

life.

A man of

sorrows

acquainted with

grief,

despised

and rejected.

His life

threatened because

of God's

call.

You could say

he walked

through a

famine every

day of his

life.

And it

would have

been far

more comfortable

for him to

abandon these

promises.

He had every

opportunity to

fear and

doubt the

glory to

God, but

he never

did.

But instead

because of

the joy

that was

set before

him, he

endured that

unglorious

life, endured

it even to

the cross.

And he

came out the

other side and

entered into

that unseen

world.

He saw

that glory to

come.

And so how

can we be

sure that that

glory is coming

when Christ

has already

gone there for

us?

And he

didn't just

go for

himself.

He went

ahead to

prepare the

way and to

prepare a

place for

all those

whom he has

called.

For those in

Christ, as he

emerged from

that grave and

entered into the

glory of heaven,

he won for us

a new home, a

new people and

all the blessings

of God.

And he is

right now, this

moment, he is

seeing what we

cannot see

that.

And he is

waiting there

to bring you

home.

And so as we

float here,

waiting in the

ocean, be

assured, Christ

is there just

over the

horizon, coming

for you.

And he's

protecting you

every step of

the way until

you're finally

home.

home.

And so God

is calling,

calling us to

a one-one

seed.

And so by

faith, follow

this call.

But even

then, when

you fear your

faith may fail,

Christ can

hold you

fast.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Thank you.