10 Generations

Read Genesis 11:10-12:3

God has reached a similar point to what he had before the flood? 10 generations from Adam to Noah, 10 generations from Shem to Abraham. The world is corrupt and wicked and so God seeks again one man through whom he may redeem the world and his people. And that man is Abram or ,as he later be called, Abraham.

But yet I want you to observe a difference between Noah and Abraham. Noah is lauded as a blameless man in his generation. His righteousness exceeds that of all those around him, but yet you will see no such a designation given to Abram. Wasn’t Shem’s line the preserved godly line? A passage in Joshua helps to shed some light on this.

Joshua 24:2–3 (ESV)

²And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. ³Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many.

Abraham was no lone righteous God-worshipper among all the pagans. He was a pagan himself but yet God chose him. One of the great questions that will plague the mind of a Christian from time to time is “why did God choose me?”, “Why have I been saved when so many of my friends or family have not?”

Those who do not truly have a grasp of the gospel will be able to find some reason, something within themselves to justify why they have been saved when some many others haven’t. But you will know you have truly grasped the gospel when you look at yourself and can see no reason why God would choose to love you.

Abraham was no righteous man, blameless in his generation. Why was he loved by God, because he was chosen by God. He was shown grace because God chose to. It is as simple as that. Some will struggle with the humbling nature of this truth, for it means there is nothing in us God finds worthy enough to even show us any grace or love.

But it should bring all of us great relief, because if his choice to love us is not based upon who we are, then he will not remove his love because of who we are or what we have done. You are not worthy of God’s love and yet you have received it, delight in it, do not waste your time trying to prove you can earn it. It is a gift from the God who loves to give, all you need to do is accept it with gratitude.

Prayer:

Father, your ways and thoughts are beyond our understanding. We cannot comprehend the reason behind all that you do, but yet Lord we rejoice because in your infinite wisdom you have chosen to love us. Help us to accept this love and grace with gratitude, destroy that selfish attitude in us which refuses to accept a gift which we have not earnt. Fill us with your joy. In Jesus name. Amen.