Abraham’s Faith

What is faith? Faith according to the Word - faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen – Hebrews 11:1. The Word further clearly says without faith it is impossible to please Him – Hebrews 11:6. Abraham is the name that immediately flashes in mind when one thinks of faith. 

Abraham is considered the father of faith. Thou he was as good as dead (Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude – Hebrews 11:12) he believed in the promise given by the Lord that he would become the father of nations and this was credited to him as righteousness (Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness - James 2:23). Waiting patiently for almost 25 long years for an heir was not his only test of faith, the toughest one followed suit. After Abraham begot his only son Isaac his faith was further put into test, God wanted him to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering (Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. – Genesis 22:2). Abraham came out successful in his test of faith. These are few qualities of Abraham that are the key whenever faith is put to test.

Obedience

Expectation

Being focused

Had the assurance

Persistence

Abraham was obedient to God. He was very prompt in his response to God’s call. He started on his mission almost immediately, the Bible says early the next morning he started (Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac - Genesis 22:3). He was not lethargic and he did not waste much time in thinking about it, instead he was very much focussed on what he was supposed to do. They walked for the three days to the place where God wanted him to give the sacrifice. When he saw the place in a distance he told his servants to wait there until he and Isaac go over to the mountain worship and then come back. He was very confident and expected to return back with his son even though he knew that he was going to sacrifice Isaac. The Word clearly says “We will worship and then we will come back to you” – Genesis 22:5. What gave him this confidence that he will come back with Isaac even after the sacrifice? He believed in the Word that God gave him, that He will establish his covenant with Isaac and his descendants (...you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him - Genesis 17:19). So Abraham was more than confident that nothing will happen to Isaac and that he will come back with Isaac even after the sacrifice.

Abraham was always focussed on his mission and he left no stone unturned and kept moving forward. He and his son Isaac carried all that were needed for the sacrifice and walked towards the mountain (Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife – Genesis 22:6). Innocent Isaac who had no clue of what is going to happen, asked his father we have everything ready for the sacrifice but where is the lamb for the sacrifice? Abraham gave Isaac the assurance that God will take care and provide for it (God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. - Genesis 22:8). After reaching the mountain he was still persistent in his goal, he built the altar, bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar and took the knife to slay him (Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. - Genesis 22:9, 10). Abraham was never languid in his approach. He never wasted any of him time thinking whether to obey or not, instead he was very prompt in his response to God’s call. What an act of obedience?

Now the angel of the Lord called him from heaven acknowledged his faith and obedience towards the Lord and told him not to put a hand on the boy, instead he provided a ram for the sacrifice (Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. - Genesis 22:12). Abraham called the place The Lord will provide. The Angel of the Lord called him the second time and gave him the reward for his faithful obedience.  I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me. Genesis 22:16-18.

Abraham was very much obedient and when his faith was put to test, he came out victorious. Job says, When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold – Job 23:10.  When everything goes well and good it is very easy to boost about faith and profess it, but when life turns out to be a jungle of thorns and the very basic essence of life is put into test, will I come forth as gold?

Whenever faith is put under trial fix the eyes on Jesus - the pioneer and perfecter of faith, you will not grow weary and lose heart.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrew 12:1-3.