How God helps us to know him

Abraham had much the same start in life that many of us probably had, with little to no understanding of, or even interest in, God. And for Abraham it lasted for the first seventy years of his life too, because his father, who ruled the family roost, “worshipped other gods.” 

And maybe we grew up in a culture that focused our minds on “other gods” too, like materialism, self image, and personal gain. So wouldn’t it have been nice if God had done for us what he did for Abraham?

Like, for instance, God speaking in person to us, just as he did to Abraham in Genesis 12:1, when “the Lord said to Abram.” And later in verse 7, “the Lord appeared to Abram” too.  

And in Genesis 13:14-17, God pronounced amazing promises in person to Abraham too. He also encouraged Abraham “in a vision,” Genesis 15:1. And when Abraham needed further assurance that God would fulfill his promises to him in Genesis 15:8, God responded in the most remarkable way. He had Abraham “bring a heifer, a goat and a ram” in verse 9, and told him in verse 10 to “cut them in two and arrange the halves opposite each other.” And that evening in verse 17, “a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces,” to get the point across to Abraham, that if he, God, broke his covenant to bless Abraham’s descendants as promised (in verses 18-20), then he, God, should be cut in two like those animals. 

Talk about dramatic visuals, but that’s how God helped Abraham to know him. So does God do the same for us? 

Yes he does, Hebrews 1:1-2 – “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” God still speaks, just as he did “in the past,” but he’s updated his way of speaking in our day through Jesus. 

And that would include appearing to us in Jesus too, because as Jesus himself said in John 14:21, “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” 

Which he did in person to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and “their eyes were opened and they recognized him,” Luke 24:31. So they knew it was Jesus talking to them. 

But “How do we know Jesus is talking to us?”…(next blog)