{"id":4345,"date":"2015-08-01T14:21:19","date_gmt":"2015-08-01T18:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=4345"},"modified":"2015-08-02T06:09:40","modified_gmt":"2015-08-02T10:09:40","slug":"an-uncle-like-abraham-do-you-have-one-would-you-be-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=4345","title":{"rendered":"An Uncle Like Abraham – Do You Have One? Would You Be One?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Blog<\/a>Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. They also took Lot, Abram\u2019s nephew<\/strong>, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram.<\/span> When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men<\/strong>, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit<\/strong> as far as Dan.<\/span> He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them<\/strong>, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.<\/span> He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people<\/strong>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,\u00a0<\/em>Possessor of heaven and earth;<\/span><\/em>
\n And blessed be God Most High<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.\u201d<\/em> – Genesis 14:11-16, 19-20<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Abram (Abraham), the father of many nations, had a nephew, Lot. This nephew didn’t make wise choices. We are probably familiar with the story of God’s rescue of Lot prior to His destruction of the wicked cities of\u00a0Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18, 19<\/a>). The story of Abraham’s rescue of his nephew may not be as familiar, but it gives testament to a good\u00a0uncle, one\u00a0we would all love to have.<\/p>\n

At church last week, the question was posed, “What would it be like to have an uncle like Abraham?” I’ve been thinking about that question all week. On my side of the family, no uncle came to mind (extended family\u00a0separated by distance,\u00a0disposition, or divorce). I do have great brothers, dad, and dad-in-law…but uncles? Not like that.<\/p>\n

Dave has an uncle\u00a0who came to mind at the posing of the question. Uncle Bob. He is a man of great faith and love. He has a deeply generous heart toward others, and never seems to meet a stranger. He has always been kind and encouraging to Dave, all his life. Last year, he\u00a0became very ill, and we went to see him, just to be near him for a few hours. We live\u00a0states away and miss family times together. Thankfully, he’s doing much better and continues in\u00a0his Abrahamic ways.\"Nancy<\/a><\/p>\n

Our children have good uncles – some belonging to the family and some who have “adopted” them, during our life overseas. Our two who are married asked two of those “adopted uncles” to officiate at their weddings. Such was the character and love of those men.<\/p>\n

\"Dec<\/a><\/p>\n

What is it to be a man like Abraham as uncle to his nephew, Lot? I see four distinctives<\/strong> in him related to his relationship with his nephew. These inspire us to be this kind of family – as Abraham to was to Lot – in the lives of those God has placed in our lives.<\/p>\n