Abraham’s Example of Faith
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
Hebrews calls Abraham one of the heroes of the faith. There is a lot to learn from Abraham’s example of faith and obedience. He listened to God’s call, actively obeyed Him at high cost and waited for God to reward Him. He did all this through faith, and by it obtained salvation.
We read in Genesis 12 that God commanded Abraham to leave his current home for a far country. He was not young and unwise. He was advanced in years, being seventy-five years old when God said to him: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).
This move was to be a permanent uprooting for himself and his immediate family. It meant leaving both his father’s house and his fatherland. It meant leaving everything that was a part of his security. He left his home, his property, his business contacts, his doctor, and everyone else that was integral to his community. He took his wife, his nephew, and some servants. The only other person who went with him was God.
What made Abraham’s departure all the more startling was that he had no idea where he was going. He was a pilgrim with no place to call his home. But he went with a promise, a sacred pledge from God Himself that the Lord would show him a land where Abraham would become the father of a great nation.
The author of Hebrews honoured this moment in his life: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance” (Hebrews 11:8). Romans 4:20-22 says,
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
The author of Hebrews defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith fills the vacuum of hope. Hope, when coupled with faith, has substance, and substance is something rather than nothing. Faith also provides evidence for that which is not visible. Faith is not blind. Indeed far from being blind, it is both far-sighted and sharp-sighted. Its evidence rests not on speculation but on confidence in a God who sees what we cannot see. It rests on trust in the reliability of every promise that is uttered by God.
It is one thing to believe in God. It is quite another to believe God and all that He says. Abraham believed God when He said He would show him a better country. He believed God again later when God established His covenant promise in Genesis 15, and by this faith Abraham was counted righteous (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:22). He was justified by his faith.
That Abraham’s faith was genuine is seen in that he obeyed God by faith. True faith is always obedient faith. Abraham obeyed the call of God on his life—and he demonstrated this obedience when he “went out.” His faith resulted in obedient action.
When Abraham arrived in Canaan, it was by no means a great nation. But he dwelt there, living in tents. God may have prepared a mansion for him in heaven, but in Canaan all he had was a tent. The only parcel of Canaan he ever actually owned was his burial plot.
Most importantly, Abraham waited. This is perhaps the hardest test of faith. Unrealized expectations make for bitterness and despair in many people’s lives. But Abraham waited in faith, just as God later required patience of the prophet Habakkuk, when He said:
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3).
What an example for us! We know that we too are pilgrims, dwelling in a strange land. We look forward to the day when God's promises will come to fulfilment, but meanwhile we wait patiently like Abraham. Meanwhile, is God calling you to a particular place? Is He calling you to serve Him someplace? Listen for His call, and respond. Go out in faith, even if it means personal sacrifice. Abraham sacrificed His homeland and his family. He was even prepared to sacrifice his son for God (Genesis 22:9). God did sacrifice His Son. Can you then sacrifice yourself to God?
Psalm 27:14,
Wait on the Lord;Don’t be afraid to wait. All God’s marvellous promises will come to pass.
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
“But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
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