Section 7
us has answered God's call in an absolute way. Nevertheless, God is absolute. Regardless of how unabsolute we are, God will fulfill His call.
Abraham loved Lot. God used him to disci pline Abraham. Eventually, Lot separated from Abraham and Abraham followed God's call abso lutely. He no longer had his father or his nephew. He was alone with his wife. He had left his coun try, his kindred, and his father's house. However, Abraham had to leave one more thing—himself. He held on to himself.
We know Abraham still clung to himself by his reaction to Sarah's suggestion that he have a child by Hagar. Although this proposal was made with a good intention, it was against God's call. Abraham should have exercised discern ment and not have listened to his wife. Sarah's suggestion was a test to prove that Abraham re mained in his old self, that part of him was still the old creation. God's intention, however, was to call Abraham completely out of every part of the old creation—not only out of his country, kindred, and father's house, but also out of him self. It seemed that God was telling Abraham, "You should not do anything. You must come out of yourself. I will do everything for you. But I can not do anything while you remain in yourself."