Abraham, Father of the Faithful

Our church is participating in The Story, which is a fabulous approach to studying God's Word in chronological order. We are just getting started, but I am so excited about what I have learned so far!

One week, our lesson was about Abraham, Father of the Faithful. I've heard the story of Abraham many times in my life, but like other passages of scripture, I learned something new when I read it this time. Recent life experiences have made me more aware of Abraham's faith in God.

When God called Abraham (then known as Abram) to follow Him, he gave distinct instructions:

The Lord had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.' Genesis 12:1

One of the things that struck me in the beginning of Abraham's story was that God gave him one thing to do - follow Him - while God promised Abram many things:

(2)“I will make you into a great nation,

    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing. 

(3)I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:2-3

I interpret that to mean that if we trust in God, He will bless our efforts. All we have to do is trust Him and follow His will!

The Bible doesn't say anything about Abram wrestling with the decision or doubting God's will. It just says that Abram did what the Lord had asked:

(4)So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. (5)He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 

Genesis 12:4-5

Abram trusted God enough to pack up his family and all of their belongings and head out to a destination unknown. And notice Abram's age at this time: 75... not exactly the age that we would consider starting over. That took a tremendous amount of faith, I am sure!

Another part of Abraham's story really hit home with me. The story of Abraham and Isaac is probably one of the most well known stories in the Bible, and I've studied it many times since I was a small child. One thing you have to remember is that Isaac was a special blessing from the Lord, as Abraham and Sarah were given this baby late (very late!) in life, after years and years of infertility.

(1)After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
    I am your shield,
    your very great reward.”

(2)But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

(4)Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” ⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

(6)Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1-6

So when God tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his only child, his response is pretty amazing to me:

(1)Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.  

(2)Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”  

(3)Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. (4)On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. (5)He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 

(6)Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, (7)Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” 

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 

(8)Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together."

        Genesis 22:1-8

Abraham never questioned God and didn't seem to wrestle with his decision to do what the Lord had told him to do. He trusted completely that God was in control and knew what He was doing. I believe that in verse 8, Abraham knew that God's plan was the best, even if it meant sacrificing Isaac, his beloved son.

Now see how God provided:

(9)When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. (10)Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (11)But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” 
“Here I am,” he replied.  

(12)“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

(13)Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. (14)So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”  

(15)The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time (16)and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, (17)I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, (18)and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” 

Genesis 22:9-18

Abraham was faithful in his obedience to God, and in God's timing - for which we are so often too impatient to wait - God provided Abraham with a ram to sacrifice and blessed Abraham with an amazing legacy. 

If God rewarded Abraham's obedience in such grand ways, don't you think He will reward us for our obedience? I certainly do! I believe that the more we trust in God, the more our lives become less "scary" because God is truly in control. I believe that when we give every aspect of our lives to Christ and follow Him completely, we find a peace and a joy that can't be found when we aren't walking hand-in-hand with Him.  When we depend on God for every breath we take, every moment we live, we are surrounded by his peace, even as we face earthly troubles and sorrows. Walking with Him helps us to remember at all times that no matter what we face, His grace covers all, His mercy covers all, His peace covers all, and His love is everlasting. What a gift!!

If you don't have a relationship with Christ, please contact a local church or feel free to contact me and I will help you. Walking with God is the most important thing we can do on this earth. Please don't let the opportunity pass you by!