A Sevenfold Consecration Of Abraham, By eldgboye

The act of Consecration is a process of sanctification of a person or thing, by setting apart and dedication to God. It is as old as humanity and the concept of the Creator God, which includes the following: 

• A solemn commitment of life and time a higher service or goal 

• An act of dedication to a higher purpose or cause 

• An act of devotion to a higher purpose 

• A setting apart unto God and His service 

• An act of sanctification 

According to H. Page Lee, a Bible scholar, in his erudite contributions to the subject matter, at page 334, paragraph 2, of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Consecration is the process of separation of Persons or things, unto God, which conferred holiness or sacredness, on the Persons or things thereby separated. 

Amplifying the subject matter further, the learned scholar indicated two root words, of Hebrew and Greek origins, variously translated, by several English words, for Consecration; namely, Hebrew qadesh and Greek hagiaze, meaning the following in the English Bible translations: 

• Consecrate 

• Dedicate 

• Hallow 

• Holy 

• Sanctify 

In addition, he opined that when Persons or things were “Consecrated,” they were separated to or belonged to God. Consequently, they were set apart to live according to God's demands and Service. 

Inferences from the foregoing indicate that Consecration has the following essential elements, namely: 

• Commitment 

• Dedication 

• Devotion 

• Sacredness 

• Sanctification 

An in depth observation of the life and times of Abraham, biblically, indicated that he lived a life compliant with the above elements in his relationship with God, leading to the submission that he had a sevenfold Consecration, as the following Bible passages reveal.

In his walk With God, the man Abraham was impeccably committed, as he displayed a lifetime of loyal dedication and steady devotion all the way. Holiness and sanctification became attractive ways of life, cherished by the man who became the source of global generational blessings. 

To have a clear depth and perspective of Abrahamic loyalty and commitment, in the face of prolonged childlessness by his wife Sarah, in spite of the abiding promise in that regard, prompted the search for his hidden strength and faith, in the troubled Waters of life.

The above search led to the discovery of the Sevenfold Consecration, which began at the beginning of his walk with God; when he was selected and called by God, into a journey of lifetime Consecration in Genesis 12 : 1. 

1. The first consecration took place, when Abram made a choice to abandon his native land, in obedience and the pursuit of the land proposed and promised to him by God. 

By this act of Consecration, he left certainty by today’s standard, in pursuit of uncertainty, only a commitment arising from the act of Consecration, could inspire such, at a first encounter with God. 

2. The second fold equally occurred in the same first verse of Genesis chapter 12, when Abram took the decision to abandon his Kindred, in obedience and dedication to God. 

On that day and by that act of obedience and dedication, God became his Kindred, while he dedicated his life to Him.  

3. The third fold Consecration, like the preceding two, took place at the same portion of the Bible, when Abram decided to surrender his Self will and life goals to the leading of God. 

Not his own will anymore, it became thy Will be done O Lord, an act of total submission and true Devotion, where a man lay his all on the altar as sacrifices of Faith.

4. The fourth fold Consecration occurred in Genesis 13 : 5-18,when he had to separate from Lot his nephew, to facilitate a complete set apart unto God and His Service. 

5. In Genesis 17 : 15-27, the arrival of Ishmael created fatherly concerns and the attendant plans, to deal with them. However, the fifth Consecration was for him to give up his plans for the Son of the bond woman. 

6. On the sixth Consecration in Genesis 21: 9-21, Abraham took the decision to cast out Hagar and the Child, Ishmael. 

A decision that consolidated his walk with God, as He directed him to hearken to the voice of his wife, regardless of his fatherly emotions towards the child and the bond woman.

7. The final Consecration was indeed a baptism of Faith, in Genesis 22 : 1-19, when he had to make a choice between his abiding love for God and the Child of Promise, obtained at an extremely old age. He actually offered Isaac, but God redeemed him with a Sacrificial animal. 

The man Abraham, the father of Faith earned the accolades by fulfilling the mandates of his Sevenfold Consecration, at a very great cost, made possible by the Grace of God.  

I leave you in the atmosphere of His Grace.

Your informed contributions are welcome at the section on comments, do not hesitate to send them across. 

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Shalom!