S3E3: Why Genesis won't say -how- Abram heard God

05/10/22 • 33 min

The Genesis account of Abraham, Sarah, and their children, invites its readers to follow in their path, and continue their journey toward God. There's one, big problem: it doesn't tell us how to start. Their journey begins with God speaking to Abraham (Abram), but Genesis does not describe how God first spoke to Abram, and how Abram heard God for the first time. So, can we get an answer?
This episode will explore and consider what it means to say Abraham, Sarah, and their family were real people, and what it was for them to begin their journey with God.
2:04 What can we say about Abraham as a real person?
6:54 What Christians are concerned about regarding the Bible
13:17 The silence on Genesis about how God spoke to Abram
19:10 How God speaks to all people according to Genesis
22:01 The voice that spoke to Abram
27:58 Did Abram know it was God speaking?
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S3E2: Is Abraham a "historical" figure? No... and Yes.

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Abraham, Sarah, and their family--are they "historical" figures?
The simple answer? No... and Yes. (Ok, so it's not a simple answer)
Another answer is the actual title of this episode:
"Historical in/significance of Abraham's story"
This odd title can refer to four things.
1) The "insignificance" of Abraham as a "historical figure" for historians
2) The significance of Abraham's story in history
3) The historical dimension "in the significance" of Abraham's story
4) The significance of Abraham in how history has unfolded ever since.
And all of that leads us back to God's original promise to Abraham in Genesis, to bless him, to make him great, and to make his name significant, so that he will be a blessing to all people.
1:33 Primeval History in Genesis versus...
8:29 ... the Ancestral History in Genesis
13:02 Who wrote Genesis and why?
21:12 The question of Abraham as a "historical" figure
27:35 Historical in/significance of Abraham
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S3E4: How Abram learned Who was speaking to him

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To hear God speak to you, is to be presented with truth; they are the same thing. And God speaking to you often begins with uncertainty, because we don't know whether what is being presented to us really is true.
Abram and Sarai hears God speak to them in how they are moved, or inspired, to follow an inner call. "Something" guides them, and that "something" unfolds events in their lives that enable them to follow the call. Because of this, they learn that what this Voice speaks, is really true.
But, something more happens, and they gradually learn Who is speaking to them. Let's follow their journey (or for this episode, Abram's portion) to explore what happened.
2:02 Why there is uncertainty in hearing God speak
8:25 What Abram learned in Egypt
14:28 Abram's developing inner strength shown in Canaan
23:25 Abram's fateful meeting with Melchizedek
29:14 Abram learns that "God Most High" was speaking to him

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What do you mean God speaks? - S3E3: Why Genesis won't say -how- Abram heard God

Transcript

[ pendulum ]

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household, to a land that I will show you.’”

The title of this series is drawn from a question that I had long ago when I read these words that began the Genesis story of Abraham. I asked, what do you mean God spoke to Abram? How, exactly? Of course, I had other questions too. What do you mean God created the world? What about what science