Abraham is one of the great men of faith found in the bible. His story starts in Genesis 12 when God told him to leave his country, relatives and parents. Not only does he tell him to leave, but he doesn’t tell him where he will be going. God does, however, promise to bless him and make his name great, and also bless those who bless him & curse those who curse him.
What I like about Abraham is he doesn’t ask questions. His faith is so great he just does as God requests. Genesis 12:4&5(KJV) So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Another act of faith happens when Abraham decides to split company with his nephew Lot because they each had huge flocks, herds and people with them. There were so many that they started to compete for food for their animals & people. The herdsmen started to fight amongst themselves. Abraham a true man of God knew that the fighting would just get worse. He told Lot to look over the land and choose which way he wanted to go and Abraham would take his animals & people the other way. Notice he didn’t care if the land was better or not. He knew God would care for him. Of course, Lot chooses the better land.
After Lot leaves God again speaks to Abraham and repeats his promise: Genesis 13:14-18 (KJV) And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
At one point or another, we all slip in our faith. You wouldn’t think that a man that personally talked God would, but they are human also. Abraham doesn’t consult God & doesn’t have faith that where God leads he will protect.Genesis 12:10-13(KJV) And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
Something I never knew, but Sara really was Abraham’s half-sister. Even though it was a half lie, it still was a lie. A lie always affects someone, in this case the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh didn’t know he took someone’s wife. Genesis 12:17(KJV) And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
Abraham also didn’t have faith when God informed him he & Sarah would have a baby. In fact, he laughed. Genesis 17:16-17 (KJV) And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
I believe because of Abraham’s slips of faith that God tests him. Genesis 22:1-3(KJV) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Notice Abraham had so much faith he did not even question God. I’ll be honest I don’t think I’ve arrived at his level of faith. I know it’s wrong, but I am weaker.
When they arrived, Isaac noticed he had everything necessary for a burnt offering except the lamb. Abraham replied God would provide.
Can you imagine how Abraham felt when he saw no sacrifice, but he still intended to obey God. Genesis 22:9-13 (KJV) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Abraham had an abundance of faith wouldn’t you say? He fully trusted God. Because of Abraham’s GREAT FAITH & OBEDIENCE, God blessed him mightily. Genesis 22:15-18(KJV) And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Stand Up for Jesus Christ 