Walk before me

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. ~ Genesis 17:1

Today we have one of the commands in the scripture that sets out the expectation of God from every believer, not just Abraham, who received it firsthand. Though it is a simple command, it is tough to fulfill because of the nature of our flesh but blessed be the name of the Lord that in the command itself, He provides the resource to carry it out. Let us examine this verse and see what the Lord will reveal.

This verse came 13 years after Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham. Ishmael resulted from Abraham and Sarah trying to help God fulfill the promise He made to them. At this point, Abraham had stopped believing in God for the promised child, convinced that it was Ishmael, but this was not God’s plan. Despite this mistake, God appeared to Abraham to rekindle his faith and entered into a covenant with him. Oh, what a loving God we serve that takes note of us even when we go outside His will and uses it for His glory (Psalms 8:4-6).

After the Lord appeared to Abraham, the first thing He said was: “I am Almighty God.” The Hebrew word for Almighty God is El Shaddai which means the all-sufficient, all-powerful God. This word also describes God as one that can create and destroy life. God knew Abraham could not fulfill the command He was going to give in Himself, so He introduced Himself as the all-sufficient one, able to help him carry out the condition soon to set before Him. The life Christ calls us to live as His disciple is not one we can live in ourselves, which is why He sent us the Holy Spirit (John 14, I encourage you to study this at your convenience). A great lesson to learn is this: whenever God calls you to a way of living or lays a command for you, He has made accessible all the resources you need even before He sends the word to you. So don’t consider how impossible it is, believe that all things are possible with God, and watch that mountain become a plain in your sight (Luke 1:37).

After God had introduced Himself as the Almighty, He then lay the command before Abraham: Walk before me and be blameless. Oh, what glorious invitation the God of glory gives to a mere creature as man. Man, a sinner, a wretch, a traitor, a rebel that deserves nothing but death, is called to walk before the presence of the Most Holy, Most Righteous God. Though He cannot behold sin, so He sent his only Son to become sin for us, that we might walk in His presence blameless. The shepherd will always let his sheep walk before him, so he can see all they are doing to provide guidance and protection and lead them to a green pasture. Jesus, in the same way, is our great shepherd, and we are His sheep (Psalms 23; John 10: 1-30). The command does not end there; God invites us to be perfect (complete and mature in Him). Oh, how amazing it is that God not only invites us to walk before Him but invites us to be perfect even as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48).  

It is made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit sent to us by the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (John 14:15-17). 

Beloved, this call can only be answered by faith (Hebrews 11:6). I encourage you to answer this call and watch God make the resource available to work the calling out. Here is a thought on faith for you to ponder:

“Faith in God leads to righteousness with God

Righteousness with God leads to intimacy with God

Intimacy with God leads to more revelation of His character

More revelation of His character strengthens your faith in God.”

Hymn

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

pure, unbounded love thou art.

Visit us with thy salvation;

enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit

into ev’ry troubled breast.

Let us all in thee inherit,

let us find the promised rest.

Take away the love of sinning;

Alpha and Omega be.

End of faith, as its beginning,

set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver,

let us all thy life receive.

Suddenly return, and never,

nevermore they temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;

true and spotless let us be.

Let us see thy great salvation

perfectly restored in thee.

Changed from glory into glory,

till in heav’n we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love and praise.