Nineteen aspects of God's manifestation in Abraham's life - opposites (contrast)

 

Nineteen aspects of God's manifestation in Abraham's life - opposites (contrast) 

Acts 7:2 Stephen said, “Listen, brothers and elders, when our father Abraham was still in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran, the glorious God appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘This land I will give to your offspring.’ So Abram built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.” 

Contrast	Aspect A	Aspect B	Point of contrast
Speaking and silence	The faithful God (speaks, makes covenant)	The silent God	One speaks and assures repeatedly; the other is silent for thirteen years
Distance and nearness	The silent God	The God of human friendship	After thirteen years of silence, God from then on walks and talks with him as a friend
Hidden and manifested	The God who secretly cares (works in secret)	The God of glory  (His appearing is glory)	Lee says that if God hides Himself there is no glory, and when He appears that is glory
Splendor and lowliness	The God of glory  (brilliant, shining)	The God of human friendship (human form, eating, foot-washing)	One is the shining of glory; the other is God coming down to the human level
Earthly and heavenly	The God of comfort and encouragement  (seed like the dust)	The God who is the shield and great reward (seed like the stars of heaven)	The earthly seed, according to human nature, versus the heavenly seed, according to divine nature
Flesh and grace	The silent God (Ishmael born of the flesh)	The unchanging God  (Isaac born of grace)	One comes from man’s doing, the other from God’s grace
Asking and giving	The testing God  (asks for the only son)	The blessing Triune God (swears to bless greatly)	First he is asked to offer up, then he is given a greater blessing
Might and gentleness	The Almighty God (closes the wombs of Abimelech’s house)	The God of friendship in humanity (remembers and rescues)	They look opposite on the surface, but both serve the care of His friend

 

*Please refer to the 2026 Autumn Training for Elders and Responsible Brothers, General Topic: The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Chapter Two: The God of Abraham as Seen in His Treatment of Abraham.