Abraham
Abraham is a prominent Bible character.
He is called, “God’s friend” (James 2:23).
Abraham is also called, “the man of faith” (Galatians 3:9).
And believers are called “the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).
Abraham lived about 4,000 years ago. His home was near the Euphrates River in what is now Iraq.
When his father died, God told Abraham to leave Iraq and go to a land that He would show him. Abraham went “as the LORD had told him.”
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).
(Ever feel like you don’t know where you’re going? If you follow God’s directions you will arrive at the right place anyway. Just as Abraham did.)
God made three promises to Abraham: 1) land; 2) Abraham would be a great nation; and 3) he would be a blessing to all the world (Genesis 12:1–3).
And, 1) Abraham’s descendants, the Jews, received the land of Israel, 2) The Jews are a nation now. Someday they will be great. Jerusalem will be the world capital, 3) Jesus Christ, through whom all who believe have salvation and eternal life, is a descendant of Abraham.
God keeps his promises.
But promises no. 2 and 3 required a son. And Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless. They thought they were now too old for children. God promised Abraham he would have a son anyway (Genesis 15:4); Isaac. Abraham believed God and that faith was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Sarah gave birth to Isaac at age 90. Abraham was 100.
God keeps his promises.
Abraham’s faith was further tested when God told him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. Abraham proceeded to obey. He believed even if Isaac was sacrificed, God could bring him back from the dead. Instead, God provided an animal sacrifice in place of Issac.
Abraham had great faith but he wasn’t perfect.
He lied about his relationship with Sarah to protect himself…twice (Genesis 12:10–20; 20:1–18). God protected Abraham despite his lack of faith.
Also, Sarah suggested Abraham have a child with Sarah’s servant, Hagar. Abraham agreed (Genesis 16:1–15). Ishmael was born. And he was a problem when the promised Isaac later arrived.
(By the way, Isaac’s descendants are the Jews. Ishmael’s descendants are the Arabs. They fought from their beginning to this very day.)
The main point for us is that Abraham’s life is an example of salvation by faith alone.
Abraham’s faith in God’s promises was sufficient for God to declare him righteous. Abraham did nothing to earn righteousness. His faith in God was enough.
It is the same for us. “…those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:9).
“[Righteousness] will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:24-25).
The faith that was enough to justify Abraham and count him as righteous in God’s eyes (Genesis 15) was the very same faith that moved him into action as he obeyed God’s command to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham was justified by his faith, and his faith was proved by his works.
In summary, Abraham is a living example of faith and hope in God’s promises (Hebrews 11:8–10).
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:1-6).