THE SEVEN SEPARATIONS OF ABRAHAM

By Robert Burgess

Abraham is called the 'Father of FAITH or, of ''The FAITHFUL' (Ref. Ro 4.12 &: 16). His very person is SYNONYMOUS with FAITH, therefore when his name appears in Scripture; many times we can substitute the word 'Faith' in place of it. For instance Jesus said; 'If ye were the CHILDREN of Abraham (faith), ye would DO the WORKS of Abraham (faith, See Jn 8:39).'

We are admonished by the Scriptures to 'Examine yourselves whether ye be in THE FAITH (2Cor 13:5)'. I believe it would be most profitable to apply this passage to 'THE FAITH` of ABRAHAM, 'The Faith' of the Son of God. Abraham's call unto separation is CLASSIC to the call of every believer in every age; 'Wherefore COME OUT from among them and BE YE SEPARATE saith the Lord, and TOUCH NOT the UNCLEAN THING and I WILL RECEIVE YOU, And will be a FATHER unto you and ye shall be my SONS and DAUGHTERS saith the LORD ALMIGHTY' (See 2Cor 6.17-18).

1. SEPARATION FROM NATIONALITY - GEN. 12:1

GET THEE OUT from YOUR COUNTRY'
This is separation from that which to you is FAMILIAR and COMFORTABLE: In the 'Family of God' this can be seen in the DENOMI-NATION (we must lose our NATIONALITY). The 'Calling Out' of Abraham is the CLASSIC EXAMPLE of the CALL of God to every believer. Even as NATION RISES AGAINST NATION, the KINGDOM of GOD begins to RISE FIRST AGAINST ALL that pertains to the KINGDOM (or, DOMINION) of SELF.

'Unto a land that I WILL SHOW THEE'.

'The kingdom of God cometh NOT WITH OBSERVATION' Lk 17.20. What God wants to 'SHOW (or, REVEAL to)' us is what Abraham was LOOKING FOR. The Word declares that instead of looking for a 'LAND' (barren, undeveloped REAL ESTATE), Abraham 'LOOKED FOR A CITY (A PEOPLE) whose BUILDER (author, creator) and MAKER (finisher) was GOD.' First of all, the Kingdom of God cannot be seen, felt, or touched for it has it's EXISTENCE only 'IN' the HOLY GHOST (See Ro 14:17); Secondly, it is only 'FOUND' by those to whom it is 'SHOWN', and only 'SEEN' or 'ENTERED INTO' by those who are NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST, 'Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man. but of GOD' Jn 1: 13.

2. SEPARATION FROM FAMILY - GEN 12:1.

'FROM THY KINDRED' VS 1
We must SERVE THE LORD, NOT our FAMILY! This is a LONELY WALK. 'THINK NOT that I am sent to send PEACE ON EARTH (THIS is an EYE OPENER.), but a SWORD (Called the SWORD of the SPIRIT - TO CIRCUMCISE and completely DIVIDE SOUL FROM SPIRIT - For THE REALM of SPIRIT IS A REALM OF SEPARATION)! For I am come to set a man at VARIANCE against HIS FATHER, and THE DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, and the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law. And a man's FOES shall be THEY OF HIS OWN HOUSHOLD' Mk 10:34-36 (The FLESH IS ENMITY WITH GOD). 'Be not UNEQUALLY YOKED' - Christ desires that we TAKE HIS YOKE! `Therefore if any man be in CHRIST he is a NEW CREATURE' (2Cor 5:16-17). For this cause we are COMMANDED to 'KNOW NO MAN AFTER THE FLESH' - And beloved, this Judgment must begin even at OUR OWN SELVES!

3. SEPARATION FROM CARNAL BELIEVERS - GEN 13: 1.

'And Abram went UP out of Egypt, he and his wife - and all that he had, and Lot went with him into the south (Gen 13:1).'

Egypt typifies the 'Land of Sin', therefore, going 'UP' from EGYPT symbolizes a journey from the LOWER REALM of 'FLESH' to the HIGHER REALM of SPIRIT. He took his Carnal nephew, Lot with him which proved to be a mistake, for a strife soon erupted over territorial domain (See vs 6-12). One must not only 'Come out' of Babylon but must be willing to leave Babylon 'IN' Babylon.

4. SEPARATION FROM THE RIGHT OF CHOICE - Gen. 13:9

In giving his nephew Lot the right of choice, father Abraham surrendered his right to 'BE RIGHT'. In this he not only OVERCAME the 'PRIDE OF LIFE' but showed forth evidence that at last he had begun to realize that God really was WITH HIM and would TAKE CARE of him in spite of all. For, 'If God be FOR US, WHO can be AGAINST US?' (See Ro 8:31)

Recently I was confronted by a sister who was well versed in what is termed the 'FAITH MESSAGE.. But this Sister simply could not accept the fact that Jesus taught His disciples to 'RESIST NOT EVIL (See Mt 5:39).' She said 'Why, I have never HEARD of such a thing!!' I could hardly believe it, yet here was a classic example of one who had owned a Bible all her life and 'read` the Scriptures for many years, studying under various great ministries; yet was TOTALLY IGNORANT of this IMPORTANT FAITH PRINCIPLE

5. SEPARATION FROM THE LOVE OF RICHES - GEN 13:10-12

Here is another MAJOR test to those who gravitate toward the 'PROSPERITY MESSAGE'. Many of these tend to equate 'Gain' with 'Godliness, yet Paul says: 'But GODLINESS with CONTENTMENT is GREAT GAIN' (See I Tim 6:5-6)

Beloved, in the eyes of THIS BUNCH, if you don't have 'Cadillac Faith', you are just NOT really 'RIGHT' with God. But consider if THIS were true, then WHAT ABOUT JESUS? Why, He had NO MONEY of His own; He didn't even have a COIN in his pocket, but had to borrow one from someone else in order to illustrate how to 'Render unto Caesar, that which is Caesar's (See Mk 12:17).' Again, when it was time for Him to show Peter how to get the money to pay his taxes (or, Render to Caesar) He said 'And while you're at it Peter, pay MINE TOO (My Paraphrase - See Mt 17.24-27).' Paul said; 'But they that WILL (or, desire to) BE RICH FALL into TEMPTATION, and a SNARE and into MANY FOOLISH and HURTFUL LUSTS, For the LOVE OF MONEY is the ROOT of ALL EVIL: which while some have coveted after, they have ERRED FROM THE FAITH (of ABRAHAM) and pierced themselves through with MANY SORROWS' (See I Tim 6.9-12). PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME - I'm NOT saying that it is GOD'S WILL that we should go around BROKE all the time; but beloved DON'T SEEK RICHES! Rather, 'SEEK ye FIRST the KINGDOM OF GOD and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and ALL these THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU' (See Mt 6:3 3).'

6. SEPARATION FROM ISHMAEL - GEN 21:9-12

Ishmael the 'Man of the FIELD (or WORLD)', was the FLESHLY PRODUCT of Sarah's 'GOOD IDEA' and ABRAHAMS STRENGTH! In short, he was a WORK of THE FLESH. It is interesting to note that this was the 'SIXTH' separation, and SIX is the NUMBER OF FALLEN MAN. True Abrahamic faith understands that by the 'WORKS of the FLESH' shall none be JUSTIFIED (See Gal 2.16 & 5.19). Even as Ishmael 'MOCKED' Isaac in the day Isaac was weaned, the WORKS of the FLESH are realized by the spiritually mature as nothing but A MOCKERY (as in IMITATION) of TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS. Ishmael (fleshly works) may have LOOKED like Abraham (faith), and SOUNDED like Abraham (faith), but he had an EGYPTIAN (Sinful) HEART.

7. SEPARATION FROM ISAAC Gen 22:1

This 'Seventh Separation' was the 'Acid Test,' the most monumental and CRUCIAL EXPERIENCE that Father Abraham ever had to endure; for it was in the 'Mountains of Moriah' that God proved beyond all shadow of doubt that Abraham LOVED 'The GOD of the PROMISE' even MORE than he loved 'The PROMISE of GOD!'

Notice that it required a journey of THREE DAYS (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles) in order to arrive finally at the PLACE of TOTAL SURRENDER AND SACRIFICE.
Since this is the SEVENTH SEPARATION, the SABBATH PRINCIPLE, or the LORD'S DAY PRINCIPLE is in view.

Jesus said; 'Abraham REJOICED to see MY DAY (THE SABBATH). He SAW IT and WAS GLAD (Jn 8:56).'
We were taught in Bible College that 'One day Abraham was looking down the telescope of time and saw Jesus coming forth etc. etc.' Later on however, the Lord revealed that it was when Abraham offered up Isaac that he finally 'SAW (or, EXPERIENCED)' the LORD'S DAY, for it had CEASED to be ABRAHAM'S DAY any longer.

The principle of the LORD'S DAY is very simple: In OUR DAY we do things OUR WAY, but in HIS DAY we do it HIS WAY, regardless of how FOOLISH or RECKLESS it sometimes may SEEM!
Beloved, it takes real ABRAHAMIC FAITH to DO the WORKS OF ABRAHAM!

'They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would DO the works of Abraham (John 8:39).'

Robert Burgess