A Few Godly
Attributes of Abraham |
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Elder
Robert Willis (dec) |
All of us have those things about us which make us who we
are. A persons attributes are those things such as our
character, specific traits we have, and features which make
us recognizable to others. Abraham was a man of many
attributes, too numerous to mention perhaps, yet most are
noteworthy.
In
Genesis 18 we find a rendering of the LORD visiting with
Abraham and eventually telling him that “Sarah thy wife
shall have a son” (vs. 10). In Genesis 18:2, Abraham
exhibits the first attribute we will notice in this chapter.
As he lifts up his eyes from the tent door in which he was
sitting, he saw three men standing (one of them the Lord)
and he ran to meet them. Any time the Lord sees fit to pay
us a visit, we should be ready to run to meet Him (“be not
slothful" - Hebrews 6:12). Notice this point! It was the
heat of the day and yet Abraham at his advancing age, ran to
meet the Lord. That is what I call being a faithful servant.
Next,
pay attention to what Abraham did when he met them. He
“bowed himself toward the ground” (Gen. 18:2). The Lord is
always to be shown respect and reverence. Failing to do so
is a mockery to the very one who saved us from our sins.
In verse
3 he asks the LORD to “pass not away”; meaning Abraham
desired to be with the Lord and wanted Him to not leave his
presence. What a great attribute to have. A godly desire to
dwell with our Savior and to have the opportunity to be
hospitable, which is a wonderful attribute within itself.
Abraham
will now do that which many of God’s children are unwilling
to do and that is to be a faithful “servant” of the Lord. He
wanted to give them a cup of cool water, wash their feet
which would refresh them, and desired they rest under a tree
(indicated he had compassion for them as they traveled).
He continues to prove that other attributes abode in him as
he sought to “fetch” them a morsel of bread, and then
comfort them in any way that he could, even having a young
calf (the best he could provide) killed and dressed. Now
comes “butter, and milk, and the calf” which he readily sets
before them and stood by ready to do whatever may be
required of him. What a true and faithful servant of the
Lord.
Please
notice what Abraham did which we all need to pay attention
closely; he stood by quietly under the tree with them as
they did eat. My, how respectful Abraham was to not bother
them with unsolicited chit-chat. Nor did Abraham grab his
cell phone from his trousers and start texting while they
ate. How rude it is to text while company is sitting at your
table eating at your home or out under a tree. No cost for
that comment.
In
conclusion, we must see Abraham as the Lord saw him for He
knew Abraham’s heart, being the Lord was the one who gave
him a heart of understanding. Notice what the Lord said, “
For I know him, that he will command his children and his
household after him, and they shall keep the way of the
Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring
upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Genesis
18:19).
In verse 16 through 23, we find Abraham in conversation with
the Lord concerning the welfare of others. Abraham knew that
Sodom was a wicked place, and yet he had compassion on those
who may have been godly; of which were faithful to God
though he himself did not know how many saints dwelled
there.
“The
LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with
Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place” (Gen. 18:23).
Chapter 18 of Genesis provides a number of godly attributes
of Abraham, one of which is that Abraham never questioned
the LORD concerning why he was destroying Sodom, but rather
again showed compassion for the sanctity of life; which is
far more than many have for life in our society. Perhaps it
would be good if we consider these things.
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