The Extended Family
“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations.” Genesis 17:4 NASB
Father – How is this promised fulfilled? Clearly it must extend beyond the Jewish population. Av hamon goyim means Abraham is to be father to those outside the Synagogue. Christians have understood this verse to mean God promised their connection to Abraham. Abraham is their father because they serve the same God. But this has several disturbing implications.
First, it poses the question, “Do those who claim Abraham as their ancestor really serve Abraham’s God?” In other words, what are the signs of divine obedience to the call of Abraham’s God? If we look at the Torah for the answer, we immediately discover that in general Christians do not follow the example of Abraham. Christianity has departed from the expectations of Jewish observance, yet it still claims Abraham is its spiritual father. If actions rather than creeds are the determining factors of adherence to the God of Abraham, one must question the entire Christian claim.
Second, Islam also claims Abraham as father. Its interpretation of Abraham’s role is not entirely different than Christianity’s claim. And, of course, the same issue applies. Are the actions required of Muslims consistent with the God of Abraham, or, like Christianity, have men altered the expectations so that Abraham’s God is unrecognizable in their practice?
According to Rabbi Shraga Freedman, “Even when non-Jewish nations recognize the existence of a Supreme Being and the need to serve Him, they advance many distorted notions of what He expects of His creations. Throughout history, their warped perceptions of religious devotion have caused untold pain and suffering to myriads of innocent human beings.”[1] From a Jewish perspective, nothing could be more obvious. No one whose religious consciousness excludes Jewish observance to the Torah can expect to claim Abraham as his spiritual father. A non-Jewish, Mesopotamian Abraham might somehow be included in such a spiritual lineage, but that Abraham is not the Abraham of the Bible.
God promised that Abraham would become the father of many goyim, that is, the father of many who do not descendfrom his biological line. But this does not mean these goyim are free to make up their own religious practices. What it means is precisely what James said at the Jerusalem council in the first century. “For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath” (Acts 15:21). We must remember that the promise to Abraham is predicated upon a prior statement, namely, “Walk before Me, and be blameless.” It is hardly conceivable that walking before Abraham’s God is a matter of personal taste.
Topical Index: father, Abraham, nations, Acts 15:21, Genesis 17:4
[1] Rabbi Shraga Freedman, Living Kiddush Hashem, p. 31.
“It is hardly conceivable that walking before Abraham’s God is a matter of personal taste.” Emet.
Indeed, to walk “before” God is to proclaim that He is God, the high and exalted almighty Sovereign who is to be received and honored as Creator of the heavens and earth. This is an assignment of duty… a duty of privilege, given by God’s favor.
Observance “to the Torah”— i.e., God’s will, his intentions and purposes in his work of redemption and salvation for those who are called his people, and his teaching/instructions specifically for and to his people— is neither neither exclusively Jewish, nor is it exclusively non-Jewish. It is rather for all mankind who will— in pursuit or quest of somehow being included in God’s spiritual linage as “sons” (and daughters) of the Most High— by living “loyally”… that is, faithful to and in conformity with God’s nature… which is the standard by which righteousness is marked out.
It is not merely those who can claim Abraham as their ancestor, nor even those who follow the example of Abraham (who was favored by being in covenant with God under different stipulations and requirements and for purposes other than those who later followed God— even those under the Mosaic covenant). Rather it is by believing God and living faithfully in obedience to all that He has spoken and is presently speaking— revealing himself to all those now living who would be his people, chosen from among all those of the world to live in conformity with God’s nature by faith and through faithfulness.