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School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Theology Papers and Journal Articles Seminary)

2010

The Gospel That Came to Abraham

David Tasker Avondale College of Higher Education, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Tasker, D. (2010). The gospel that came to Abraham. College and University Dialogue, 22(1), 24-26.

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Seminary) at ResearchOnline@Avondale. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theology Papers and Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@Avondale. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Logos home, God takes Abram outside and tells him that his children will be as numerous as the stars. As we read the The gospel rest of the story, it is apparent that at this stage it is still daylight. It is not until later in the chapter that dark- that came to Abraham ness falls. “Look towards the heavens by David R. Tasker and count the stars. See if you are able to number them (Genesis 15:5).” Being late afternoon, or at least early evening, that would have been an easy task. If there were any stars shining at Trusting God to fulfill His share of the proceeds to the enigmatic all, there would only have been one or promises, especially at a Melchizedek. two at most. So it is after this that the events The point is made. Although time of greatest discour- of chapter 15 happen. It is also quite Abram cannot see the full comple- agement, is an integral some time after God’s promise to ment of stars, he knows that as the Abram that his children would night deepens, stars rapidly appear part of salvation. become “a great nation”as numer- until the whole sky is full. God had ous as the “dust of the earth.” It promised Abram many descendants, Why did Jesus die? Was it a dem- appears that that promise was made but Abram could not see how there onstration of divine love, some cosmic too long ago and Abram’s hope is could be any. Until now. Stars may legal transaction, human rejection of growing dim. In response, God not be visible in daylight, but when God, or something else? Or all of the appears in a vision and speaks directly the Sun goes down, the sky is filled above? to Abram reassuring him, “I am your with them. Countless billions. And The Book of Genesis records a shield, Abram. Your reward will be just as fading daylight enables a per- profound incident that provides an very great” (Genesis 15:1). The mys- son to see more and more stars, so intriguing perspective to this ques- tified patriarch considers how that Abram would see increasing numbers tion when God appeared to Abram could be true while he remains child- of his descendantsin God’s good and asked him to perform an unusual less. God had assured Abram on at time. Obviously, the time was not yet ritual that ended with a pillar of least two previous occasions (Genesis right for Abram, but when it was, God cloud wafting through an avenue of 12:2 and 13:16) that he would have would make good on His promise. At sacrificed animal pieces. These things many children. But nothing had this insight, Abram falls on his face in may be unintelligible to people living happened, and he wasn’t getting worship, now knowing by faith that today, but if we could peel back the any younger. And his wife, Sarah, God will fulfill His word. This was curtain and see them through the eyes was moving from grandmother to not only an “aha moment” for Abram, of the ancient world, it might help us great-grandmother vintage. He is seri- but the Lord “counted it to him as to understand not only Christ’s first ously wondering how he could ever righteousness” (Genesis 15:6) as well. advent, but also the reason for the be a father and has begun considering Trusting God to fulfill His promises, plan of salvation. that maybe the promise of a gazil- especially at a time of greatest dis- The story commences with the lion descendants would be fulfilled couragement, is pinpointed here as an words “after these things” (Genesis through an adopted sonhis young integral part of salvation. 15:1).* The previous chapter describes servant, Eliezer. So he suggests that This part of the story gives us Abram’s extraordinary efforts in free- option to God. insight into why Abram is recognized ing his nephew Lot and a handful as a major hero of faith. His struggle of other captives, and restoring not God’s reassurance is ours. Maybe there has been a time only their stolen property but also all But God has other ideas. He reas- when each of us wanted something the loot taken from the five cities of sures the aging patriarch that his desperately. We may even have been the plain by a four-king confederacy. “very own son” would be his heir, not convinced that God would answer With the “318 trained men” of his Eliezer. And he repeats the promise our prayers. But God’s schedule is not household, Abram stages a daring res- that this heir will be the firstborn our schedule. He is not some conve- cue and routes the enemy. The story of a great multitude. The promise nience item that we can manipulate ends with Abram paying tithes on his will be fulfilled. To drive the point to make our life more comfortable.

24 DIALOGUE 22 • 1 2010 He is the Sovereign Lord. He upholds It is reassuring to see this descrip- states was concerned about its “inter- the worlds by His powerful word tion. God’s people would not be a national” security, it had the option to (Hebrews 1:3). We need to trust Him super race, but a band of mortals with join forces with a powerful neighbor. to work out the unknowns in our own human limitations; they would face So a treaty was formalized between lives. the reversing fortunes of life only too the king of a small city-state (a vassal But the Lord is not finished making familiar to us. Although people at king) and the king of a super-power His point. “Bring Me a three-year old times have imagined they can suc- (a suzerain king). Some of these con- heifer, a three-year-old female goat, cessfully live their lives apart from federacies grew quite large, until they and a three-year-old ram, plus a young God, He remembers that they are dust reached empire status. turtledove and a pigeon,” (Genesis (Psalm 103:13, 14). Our first par- The treaty was formalized by a 15:9). Those animals and birds must ent was created out of the dust of the series of festivals and ceremonies, and have been in pens close to his tent, ground (Genesis 2:7), reminding us a legal contract was drawn up. The because it does not take Abram long all of our humble origins. God is not climax of the ceremonial proceedings to retrieve them, slaughter them, and, so much interested in where we have was when the vassal king (the little except for the birds, cut their carcasses come from, but more in where we are guy) would walk through an alleyway in two. There is not much daylight going. He does not expect us to per- of animal halves, while the suzerain left, but Abram is able to complete the form at superhuman levels, achieving task quickly. He then lines the pieces hero status. Therefore, the descrip- in two rows, opposite each other, tions of the slavery and affliction of forming an alleyway or corridor. This, Abram’s descendants bring a human Guidelines of course, is an open invitation to the face to the situationa reality check. for contributors birds of prey in the area. The smell of God specializes in dealing with ordi- freshly slaughtered meat attracts many nary human beings with extraordinary College and University Dialogue, pub- of them, and Abram soon finds him- struggles. lished three times a year in four paral- self surrounded by hungry vultures. When it is fully dark (Genesis lel language editions, is addressed to Again, there is a delay in God’s sched- 15:17), the most amazing thing hap- Seventh-day Adventists involved in post- ule, and Abram diligently engages in pens. A “pillar” of smoke and fire secondary education, either as students “busy work,” maybe wondering why passes through the alleyway of animal or teachers, and also to Adventist pro- fessionals and campus chaplains around God didn’t take the next step in this pieces, traveling slowly from one end the world. exercise. He vigorously (and success- to the other. It is surreal, and prob- The editors are interested in well- fully) fights off the birds of prey until ably causes the hairs on the back of written articles, interviews, and reports at last collapsing in an exhausted sleep Abram’s neck to stand on end. He is consistent with Dialogue’s objectives: on the ground (Genesis 15:11, 12). At observing something very strange and 1. To nurture an intelligent, living least he has preserved the sacrifice that unexpected. Not only does he rec- faith. God had asked him to prepare. ognize the presence of the Almighty, 2. To deepen commitment to Christ, Darkness is still approaching, but but also being a child of his times he the Bible, and Adventist global it has not completely fallen yet, so is fully aware of the full significance mission. Abram’s sleep is only a power nap, of what he is seeing. And as the scene 3. To articulate a biblical approach to contemporary issues. maybe no more than five to 10 min- unfolds, he is probably utterly dumb- 4. To offer ideas and models of utes. He is startled awake by God’s struck. About the only familiar ele- Christian service and outreach. voice, “Know for certain that your ment to us in this story is the pillar of Dialogue usually assigns articles, inter- offspring will be sojourners in a land cloud and fire from the Exodus story views, and reports to specific authors that is not theirs, and will be ser- (Exodus 13:21), but that is hundreds for publication. Prospective authors are vants there… or four hundred years,” of years later. The rest of the story urged: (a) to examine previous issues (Genesis 15:13). God is giving Abram seems very foreign. What is going on, of our journal, (b) to carefully consider a fast-forward glimpse into the future, exactly? these guidelines, and (c) to submit assuring the old patriarch that even In the ancient world at that time, an abstract and personal background though his descendants will face there was a ritual (most clearly before developing a proposed article. tough times, they will return to their recorded by the Hittites) that formal- Unsolicited submissions will not be 1 returned. own land greatly multiplied in num- ized a treaty between two kings. In Check our Web site: bers and possessions (Genesis 15:14). those days, there were no countries, It all adds weight to the certainty of as we know them, just confederacies http://dialogue.adventist.org Abram having children. of city-states. If one of these smaller

DIALOGUE 22 • 1 2010 25 king (the big guy), surrounded by his Although Abram’s faith in God officials, would look on approvingly. was strong, that of his future children Action Report Continued from page 23 The point? The little king was signing would be a lot less certain. If there was his life away in front of the powerful to be any future hope for the people of leader (and many witnesses), that if he God, there had to be something more Emmerson (Walla Walla University), ever did anything to break the treaty, definite than the good intentions of a Zdravko Plantak ( he deserved to be put to death—sacri- weak-minded people. If God’s people Adventist University), ficed like the animals he was walking are to have a glorious future, then ( of Medical Arts), between.2 God Himself must be prepared to Jim Walters (), Abram had already shown himself take the consequences of the broken Christian Wannenmacher (Ludwig to be a king of sorts, and a highly covenant. In other words, by pass- Maximilians Universität München), skilled military tactician. He was very ing between the pieces, God sealed and John Webster (La Sierra highly respected by the kings of the an oath with Abram that if ever the University). valley after he defeated Chedorlaomer covenant between them was broken, The members of the steering and his confederacy of four kings of God Himself would put His life on committee are Abigail Doukhan the east and had retrieved plunder the line. (Elon University), Trisha Famisaran taken by them. With his tiny force And He did—at Calvary. (Claremont Graduate University), (Genesis 14:14), he defied the odds Oliver Ganz (Vrije Universiteit and routed an enemy of superior Amsterdam), and Zane Yi (Fordham strength. When Abram subsequently David R. Tasker (Ph.D., ). returned tithes to God instead of University), is Dean of the The society plans to formally orga- taking the spoils of war for himself, Seminary and Associate Professor nize in November of 2010, when a he was acknowledging God as his of Old Testament Interpretation conference will be held devoted to an supreme commander. In other words, and Exegesis, Adventist examination of the relationship of phi- he recognized God as the suzerain, International Institute of Advanced losophy to Seventh-day . At and himself as the vassal. Studies, Philippines. E-mail: this time a mission statement and con- [email protected]. stitution will be finalized, along with God takes personal charge an election of officers. Details about So why did the suzerain God go the conference and a call for papers through the split-animal alleyway, REFERENCES are forthcoming. For more informa- when it should have been Abram the tion, contact: Steering Committee. *The Bible version for this article is the English vassal doing that? God was simply Standard Version – 2001(ESV) E-mail: adventistphilosophy@gmail. declaring that He has taken per- com. sonal responsibility for the success 1. William W. Hallo, ed., Context of Scripture: Monumental Inscriptions from the Biblical of the plan of salvation. He assures World (Boston: Brill, 2003), vol. 2, pp. 93- us that the covenant is not based on 106. Zane Yi is a Ph. D. candidate in 2. Moshe Weinfeld, “Covenant Making in Philosophy at Fordham University. human faithfulness. And we need to Anatolia and Mesopotamia,” Journal of know that! As we read the history of Ancient Near Eastern Studies 22 (1993), He teaches Philosophy courses at Abram’s descendants, we notice that pp. 137-38; Steven L. McKenzie, Covenant Kennesaw State University. His e- (St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice, 2000), they are known more for their fail- pp. 17-18; see also Jeremiah 34:18. mail is [email protected]. ings than for their successes. And we know that it is not only Abram’s For more information about the descendants, who vacillated between Society’s upcoming inaugural confer- the very bad and the very good. We ence, visit http://adventistphilosophy. need to be reminded that our salvation wordpress.com. Theme: “Athens and is not dependant upon human abil- Jerusalem Revisited: Adventism and ity or action, but upon the action of the Love of Wisdom.” One who came as a man to fulfill all the legal requirements of the divine- human treaty. And instead of each of us having to suffer the consequences of human infidelity, God promised that He would do that for us.

26 DIALOGUE 22 • 1 2010