“And Abram believed in the Lord, and He (God) accounted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:7
In making Abram the man of faith that God was determined to make of him, God would first reveal Himself to him, the “word of the Lord” coming unto him. God would create in him a conviction concerning the truth of Himself, and what His will was, so that Abram could place his feet upon the firm foundation of Christ Himself, and this according to the objective word of truth.
There would come a day in Abram’s life, after he had been instrumental in saving Lot and his family from an enemy, that the Lord would encourage Abram, reassuring him that God was his shield, declaring also that He, God, would be his exceeding great reward. These were wonderful truths that Abram was called upon to believe. However, God would take Abram further in his call to trust God by telling him that an heir would be born to him. The Lord then brought him outside, certainly on a clear, starry night, and instructed him: “…Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to count them.” The Lord then added, “So shall your descendants be.” (Gen. 15:5) All of a sudden, Abram is called upon by God not only to believe Him for an heir from his own body, but for a multitude of descendants, the number being greater than any number of stars that Abram could count. To this “word of the Lord” would come to Abram basically one question from God: “Do you believe this?” Scripture tells us that in that moment, Abram took the step of faith, recognized by God, and by which God would bless him, for it was written that Abram “…believed in the Lord and He (God) accounted it to him for righteousness.”
This stand of Abram’s would be tested very soon afterwards, when the Lord instructed him to make an offering of several animals on an altar. However, when all had been prepared, birds of prey or vultures came down seeking to take the offering and devour it. Abram had to chase them away. Not only was Abram not expecting this, but also, when the sun had gone down, a deep sleep fell upon him, and “…an horror of great darkness fell upon him.” (15:12) There was great opposition to Abram continuing to believe God, as he was almost robbed of the sacrifice, and then, an appalling, frightening darkness overwhelmed him. God would use both events to test Abram, to see if these unanticipated obstacles to faith, would turn him aside from believing. Abram passed the test, and the Lord confirming it by, “…a smoking oven, and a burning torch that passed between the pieces.”
During the ministry of Jesus, He also intended to make Martha a woman of faith, in a very difficult situation. Lazarus her brother had died, Jesus having delayed his coming to him for about four days. Jesus used this situation to speak to Martha concerning the resurrection from the dead. She told the Lord that she believed in the resurrection. However, Jesus would take her further and higher in her faith by saying to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25) To this statement Jesus would add: “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Then, like for Abram, Jesus brings Martha to the ultimate question in response to the revelation of Himself: “Do you believe this?” Again, Martha, like Abram, would respond by professing her faith in Him. Also, like Abram, Martha’s faith would be tested. When Jesus came to the tomb of Lazarus, He instructed that the stone should be removed. Martha’s faith was then tested, revealed by her reaction: “…by this time there is a stench.” The dark moment of facing decaying flesh would test Martha, much like Abram’s vultures. However, Jesus’ voice strengthened her to believe His promise: “…if you would believe you would see the glory of God.”
Dear Father, Strengthen us to believe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.