3rd Week of Epiphany

The Daily Office

This week in the Daily Office lectionary, we continue the story of Abraham and Sarah. What are the kernels of truth in these strange stories from a very distant time and culture? Start with the story of "Abram the Hebrew" in today's reading. The Israelites did not call themselves "Hebrews." It was the settled peoples of Canaan, and later Egypt, who called the wanderer Abraham and his descendants in Egypt "Hebrews," which means "outsider."

As mighty a distinguished warrior he was, Abram remained a man with no home in this world, with no descendants, and no future for him but the darkness of the grave. When he and Sarah try to manufacture a future through the slave girl Hagar, they get only strife and more conflict. The Arabic peoples consider themselves children of Abraham through his son with Hagar, Ishmael. The Israelites are descended from Abraham through his son Isaac. Needless to say, the rivalry between the brothers has yet to subside.

God's answer to Abram's dilemma comes in chapter 15. In many ancient cultures, there is evidence of the kind of covenant described in this chapter. Two men would walk between the divided halves of several animals, as if to say, if I violate our agreement, you can do to me as we have done to these animals. Of course, God does not make agreements with us. But he does make a solemn oath to Abram, in the form of the torch that alone passes between the broken animals. God be broken as an animal? Remember this covenant between God and Abram on Friday. And know that you are one of the millions of children of Abraham, "father of a multitude of nations."

What has God promised you? Are you discouraged in your waiting? Breathe in the Holy Spirit. Let the Spirit flood your imagination. Perhaps you have underestimated the power of God's promise.