“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Romans 4:20
Abraham did not become a man of faith all at once. It is true that when God revealed Himself to him when he lived in Ur of the Chaldees, that he responded to that revelation by leaving Ur and going forth “into a place which he should receive for an inheritance. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews wrote that, “…he went out, not knowing whither he went.” (11:8) Abraham, though brought up in an idolatrous family, responds alone to the call of God. His response to the revelation of God, in a manner that is bold, is strong enough to overcome the pull of the idolatry of his family, and country. The call of God was clear to him, the conviction being of such power that God had spoken to him, that he leaves his home, and a part of his family, to go out seeking a promised land which he had never seen. God alone had become the basis for his faith, and corresponding obedience. But this was only the beginning of Abraham becoming a man of faith, even though at that time Abraham was about seventy to seventy-five years old. His faith was born when God revealed Himself to him, speaking directly to him. This principle of “revelation and response” would become the dominating principle of his life. The walk of Abraham before God, learning to live resolutely by this principle, would be essential for God to make him into a man of faith, overcoming the obstacles to faith, and finally enduring all that was apparently contrary to true faith. What was the specific truth that Abraham had to understand and make his own, so that he could overcome the great obstacles to faith, then to see the hand and blessing of God?
God did not only give to Abraham a promise concerning a land, an inheritance of that land, but more so, specific blessings associated with that land. He promised him that he would, in answer to his obedience, make of him a “great nation.” He went on to tell him, “…I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:2,3) The extent of God’s promise was incomprehensible, not only with regard to how it was to come about, but in scope to the magnitude of it. Abraham’s descendants would be as the dust of the earth in number, and as the stars in heaven. The promise was confirmed by the Lord’s words, “So shall thy seed be.” (Gen. 15:5) Blessing beyond measure was promised to Abraham, with regard to a land and a people. But there was more, much more, for in his seed, not only through Isaac who would later be born to succeed him, there would be born a single Seed, the very Messiah and Savior of the world, the hope of mankind to certainly save from sin, the world, the devil and death. But how would Abraham finish well his race and this walk of faith, overcoming every obstacle of man and devil, to turn him aside, to restrain him? It would be by the adherence of one truth which Abraham learned, practiced, and embraced. By this truth, he became the man of faith that God desired to make him, that through his lineage and family, the Messiah would be come to save all men. We find this truth in Paul’s letter to the Romans, when speaking of Abraham, concerning the occasion of Isaac’s miraculous conception and birth, but also, later when Abraham was called upon by God to offer up his son as a burnt offering upon Mt. Moriah. God’s promise to Abraham was: “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” (Heb. 11:18) Abraham, being “fully persuaded that, what God had promised, He was able to perform,” became a father of faith.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to believe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.