Receiving Glory
Genesis 13:2-18; Remsen Bible Fellowship; 11/10/2024
Introduction
Where does glory come from? Where does your glory come from?
Human beings long for glory.
Before we reject that out of hand as bad or prideful, consider:
We were made for glory
Gen 1, the image of God
Other things proclaim his glory, we are his glory (1 Cor 11:7) : the grand canyon, the stars in a Western sky, a birdsong in springtime, the awe-inspiring vastness of the ocean - these proclaim his glory. Human beings, bearing his image, are his glory.
In his essay, The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis writes about this reality of human glory:
“It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor…
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.
There are no ordinary people.
You have never talked to a mere mortal.
Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.
But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”
As Christians, we believe that the human being is a soul: a reality of body and spirit combined. At Creation, this unity imaged and proclaimed the glory of God. This is, in significant ways, affected by sin - as Lewis points out in that quote, the glory that will be revealed in those who reject the Lord will be a horror beyond our earthly imagining. But for those who have trusted in Christ, we have been redeemed for glory. Glory beyond our wildest imaginations and dreams.
Redeemed for glory
Transformed into his image, 2 Cor 3:17-18
Glory revealed in/to us: Romans 8:18-19
Partakes of the divine nature 2 Peter 1:3-4 - there is a glory that comes with growth in Christ
Transition
The temptation for us, though, is to glory-grab. Eve was tempted by the fruit - because it was desirable to make one wise. That wisdom, according to the serpent, would make her like God. Instead of imaging God, glorifying him, through obedience, Eve sought to grab glory for herself in the garden.
Glory is not evil, glory is what we were made for. But let me come back to my original question: where does glory come from? With that question in mind, let’s read Genesis 13.
Read the Text
Abram’s Glory
Note in v2: “very rich.” He was heavy, weighty, glorious
* Where did Abram’s glory come from?
* God’s blessing of him in Egypt, and now in the land of promise; 12:2
How did he respond to the giver? V3-4
* Abram’s greatness came from the Lord, and he honored the Giver
* There is a great temptation with worldly success to credit ourselves, to tell others how its done, to make ourselves out to be smarter or more powerful or more effective than we are. We forget all the help along the way, both human and Divine
* Abram recognized the source of his greatness, and responded accordingly
But with this greatness, this weightiness, came problems: conflict
* [Cannanites, Perizzites] This is likely pointing out that the land is full of both city and country dwellers. That is, it wasn’t just wide open spaces waiting to be filled. This was a populated land.
* Lot had grown along with Abram: Abram had been a blessing to Lot Genesis 12:3
* Abram proposes a solution, and it is a generous one: let’s split, you take your pick
* Abram didn’t have to do this (older, superior in might)
* But, he puts the ball in Lot’s court: what will Lot do? Where will Lot look to grow in glory?
Lot’s Choice
Lot lifted his eyes and saw the Jordan Valley, v10
* What did Lot see? A place to make his name great, and to pursue his earthly glory
Lot’s choice: rational in human terms: fertile, prosperous, a place to grow:
* are these bad things to consider? No, cf a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8)
The problem was not what Lot saw and admired: the problem was what Lot was willing to overlook: the character of the inhabitants (v13)
* why does this matter?
* Your character is shaped by the company you keep
* Lot’s later story: Gen 19
* Lot threw in his lot with the wicked cities in order to prosper materially
* Does this work out in the long run? Short term, yes, he likely still prospered: but we get foreshadowing in v10
* Abram’s prosperity was given to bless those around (like Lot). Sodom’s was accrued for carnal and selfish ends (Ezekiel 16:49)
* This means it doesn’t work in the end: God brings it to ruin
* It also had disastrous consequences for Lot
* He is a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7-8; cf he came with Abram to follow the Lord)
* Yet, his family is subsumed by the culture: his sons in law think God’s judgment is a joke, his wife longs for the judged city, his daughters acquire the sexual perversions of their home
* Lot’s righteous soul is tortured because he didn’t take into account spiritual matters at the outset
How can we learn from this?
How do you make choices about where to work, where to live, where to go to school?
* consider tangible and material things, absolutely: we aren’t gnostics or platonists
* But don’t merely consider those things. Consider first the spiritual health of yourself and your loved ones. How do you help your kids think through career, college, etc? Money is a legitimate concern, quality of life matters. Quality of spiritual life matters more.
* Good church? Potential for godly spouses?
* Just looking temporary will steer you wrong.
Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 are relevant: don’t be yoked together with unbelievers.
We must not look simply for this-worldly glory. Look for eternal glory.
Back to Abram
What does God promise him? It will all be his (v15)
Though he does not take the most profitable land, and indeed never builds a permanent dwelling, God promises him the world. (v14-17)
Hebrews 11:8-10
* Think generationally, think eternally, the promises are for us and for our children (Acts 2:39)
We long for glory, for us and our children. That comes from building a spiritual legacy of faith in the God who glorifies his people. What we learn from the Biblical story is that glory is a gift. When we walk by faith, the Lord promises glory as the result - not because we deserve it or have in any way earned it, but because he has attached his own honor to fulfilling his promises given to those who walk by faith.
So do not seek to accrue or demand or build your own glory here on earth: instead, look to pursue faithful obedience to the Lord of heaven and earth. He may, in his providence, grant you a measure of glory and greatness in terms that the world understands - money, possessions, and the like. Or he may not. But he will, if you walk in faith, grow you in conformity to his glory, and cause that glory to be revealed through your life in increasing measure. Further still, he promises you a royal place in that future city whose founder and builder is God himself.
The chapter concludes with Abram building another altar, this one in Hebron. Our faith, like Abram’s, is one centered around believing the promises of God for the future. We look backwards to his faithfulness, and our faith is strengthened. We look forward in hope, and walk in obedience, confident that God will always fulfill his purpose and promise. Including the promise of working glory in your life.
