Gen. 15:1-6; 32:24-30, Jesus at Prayer (2)

 

Jesus was doing what God always desired people to do!

·       Gen. 13:14: God appeared to Abram after the split with Lot.  It seems Abram trusted God so that he could live with whatever Lot didn’t choose. 

·       Gen. 15:1-6: Again, as usual, God took the initiative to converse with Abram.  But this time, Abram had a question, a question about Christ, the promised “Seed of the woman.”  The LORD did not blow His stack (?) but gave Abram an answer.  Abram believed God’s answer and it was credited to him for righteousness.  Great fellowship.  And Abram receive something from God.

·       Gen. 17:1: It had been a long time (13 years) since Abram and God had a conversation.  Again, God came and God spoke first!  God’s words were clear: Walk before Me and be blameless.  He longed to have the same fellowship He had with Enoch, a “walk” in the garden kind of fellowship.  But sin would not allow for this (the Adam and Eve lesson).  Again, this chapter reveals give-and-take between the LORD and Abraham. 

·       18:1: Here is the start of a conversation where Abraham took the initiative.  The LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.  Given Abraham’s living situation, this was as close as he could get to a “garden.”  He showed hospitality, and fed the Angel of the LORD and a couple other angels.  And Abraham interceded for Lot!  He pled with the LORD that He might give him something!

·       James 2:23; 2 Chron. 20:7: And he (Abraham) was called the friend of God. When did that happen?  It came from the lips of King Jehoshaphat.  Are you not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?  He knew what Abraham had with God, and likely longs to have that kind of conversation with Him too!

·       Gen. 24:63: And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening, and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there the camels were coming (with his bride)!

·       Gen. 32:24-30: Jacob had his issues.  But he also had a God who pursued him in loving faithfulness.  He had such a relationship with God that on this occasion a Man wrestled with him.  “Man” gets a capital because the translators understand this was the Angel of the LORD.  And Jacob would not let go of the Man “unless You bless me.”  Jacob was famous for doing things himself, his own way.  But down inside he knew the truth.

·       Gen. 35:1-7: Later, the LORD would initiate a conversation with Jacob, to Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there.  For the LORD, it was a place where He could be in fellowship with Jacob. Jacob responded by building an altar.

Are you getting the idea of what God intended with men?  He longed to walk and talk in the garden.  He longs to have this relationship with you and me!