Abraham Demonstrated Faith
Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened In his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. This is why faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Abraham left most of his relatives and started out into a strange country to follow the call of God. He had no land of his own, and no children. Yet he accepted God’s word that he would be the leader of a great people, beginning with his own seed. He would be the father of the faithful ones.
Of course he took with him some people, including his wife, and his nephew whose name was Lot. He took also some equipment, tents for living a migratory life, and some animals, as was the custom in those days.
God appeared to Abraham, and on several occasions He talked to him, but also God allowed Abraham to learn some lessons on his own. The call was to go forth, and for a long period of time Abraham had to move about in strange places. God allowed certain troubles and tests to come into his life to teach him, prove him, and make him ready to be indeed the father of the faithful.
As God blessed him, Abraham’s flocks and herds grew larger, and so did those of his nephew Lot. The herdsmen of Abraham and those of Lot began to quarrel over the amount of space and water allowed to each.
Abraham was a man of peace and compassion. “Let us not quarrel,” he said to Lot. “There is enough space for us all. Let us spread out. You go one way and I will go the other.”
Now Abraham was the elder and it would have been his right to choose the best land and water. But he said to Lot, “The choice is yours.” You see, Abraham knew that God would guide him and protect him. He did not depend upon his own choices and try to do things his own way. He trusted in God.
Lot was a person of different character. He trusted in his own decisions and did not seek the will of God. He did not prefer his uncle in a courteous way. He was greedy and wanted all the best for himself. He chose what seemed to be the most beautiful and productive land. The plain of the Jordan River, with its cities, excited and tempted him.
His choice was based upon human selfishness and pride. It led him further away from God. The cities were wicked and later God destroyed them. Lot’s family was scattered, some to die and the others to suffer hardships.
Abraham left the high country of Canaan. To the eyes of men it was not so attractive. But Abraham went confidently into those hills, putting into action his faith that God would provide whatever was best for his life.
There God spoke to Abraham saying:
Lift up your eyes from where you are, and look north and south and east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.
So from the higher ground, where he walked in faith, Abraham caught the vision of God’s purpose for mankind. He was blessed again by the God who counts man’s faith as righteousness.
For You To Do
- Circle the letter before each statement which gives an example of putting faith into action.
a) Abraham believed that God would give him a son.
b) Abraham went into a strange country because God told him to go.
c) Noah believed there would be a flood.
d) Noah built an ark.
e) Abraham believed God would provide the best for him, so he gave Lot his choice of the land. - Pray that God will give you faith to believe His promises and submit yourself to His will in a more complete way. You may wish to learn these words:
Oh God, full of mercy and compassion, praise be to You forever. As You reached out to the prophet Abraham and called him, may You be pleased to call me as I listen. You know what is best for me. Guide me in the way of truth and life. Amen.