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11_Abraham our Father in faith

Gen 15:5, 6 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Heb 11: 8-12 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Faith is one of the most profound concepts in the Bible. Faith is the foundation upon which our relationship with God is built. Hebrews 11, often referred to as the “Hall of Faith,” highlights numerous Old Testament heroes who demonstrated this crucial quality. From Abel to the prophets, each name is a testament to the essence and essentiality of faith. Interestingly, among these, Abraham and Sarah are given an extended mention spanning 11 verses, illustrating the depth of their faith and the lessons it holds for us.

Genesis 15 records a crucial moment in Abraham’s life, shortly after his victory over an alliance of four kings. Abraham had risked his life to rescue his nephew Lot who had been taken captive with the people of four kingdoms. Though he succeeded in recovering all the people and the possessions from the enemy, Abraham refused to take anything by way of reward from the godless king of Sodom. By doing so, he showed his unwillingness to be indebted to anyone but the God who had called him. This left him with no tangible gains and, perhaps, powerful enemies among the kings he had defeated, and the king of Sodom whose friendship he had just turned down.

In this moment of vulnerability, God appeared to Abraham with a profound promise: “Fear not, Abram: I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward.” These words underline the greatest truth on earth. Our security does not come from earthly possessions, alliances, or strength, but from the presence of God Himself. To have God as our shield is to have a defense greater than any army. God is a reward beyond the greatest treasure on earth.

However, even as Abraham gladly received this assurance, his heart remained burdened. He had no heir to inherit the promises God had given him. In response, God called him out to view the night sky blazing with innumerable stars. There he reiterated His promise. Abraham would indeed have a son, and his descendants would be as the stars in the sky. Standing there, Abraham heard and believed these words. Genesis 15:6 tells us, “And he believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”

This verse, echoed multiple times in the New Testament, reveals the essence of faith. It’s not just believing in the existence of God but trusting that He is able to do what he has promised. Abraham wasn’t merely acknowledging God’s words. He was sure that he would have children beyond count, just as God said. This simple act was counted to him as righteousness. Since he gave God the honour he deserved by declaring that he was worthy to be trusted, God declared him righteous.

Faith is fundamentally a response to the revelation of God. It is seeing the invisible as real because of God’s statement. It is being convinced of the promises of God even without visible proof or in the teeth of adverse circumstances. For Abraham and Sarah, the promise of a child was incredible. Abraham was old, and Sarah was well past the age of childbearing. But for them, it was enough that God had said it. They knew he was able to fulfill it.

This kind of faith is not mere optimism or wishful thinking. It is rooted in the character of God—His truthfulness, His love, and His omnipotence. Faith accepts God’s word as reality, even before it is visible. Abraham and Sarah acknowledged their weakness but relied on God’s strength. Sarah’s faith (Hebrews 11:11), enabled her to receive strength to conceive because she judged God faithful.

The waiting period between the promise and its fulfillment is often the crucible in which faith is tested. For Abraham and Sarah, this waiting lasted 25 years. Day by day, as their bodies aged, the human likelihood that they would see the fulfillment of God’s promise steadily faded. Yet, their faith endured. They did not waver in unbelief but grew stronger in faith. They gave glory to God by trusting Him to accomplish what He had promised.

Faith also looks beyond what is seen. The promises of God point to eternal realities. Abraham’s faith was not confined to the promise of land or descendants. He saw himself as a stranger and pilgrim on the earth, looking forward to a heavenly city whose builder and maker is God. His faith transcended death, affirming that God’s promises are eternal and unchanging.

We are called to live by faith as children of Abraham. Through Christ, we have been given a part in the promises that Abraham received. We are assured of being heirs of God as partakers of Christ, who is Abraham’s promised seed. We inherit salvation, eternal life, and the kingdom of God. These are not abstract concepts but realities as certain as the rising of the sun. Yet, like Abraham, we live in a period of waiting, walking by faith and not by sight.

Faith is not always easy. It challenges us to trust God all the time, when things are unclear and situations adverse. It requires us to surrender our understanding and rely wholly on God’s wisdom and goodness. But it is in this surrender that we find true peace and joy.

Faith manifests in obedience. Those who believe God align their hearts and actions with His word. Abraham demonstrated this when he left his homeland, not knowing where he was going. His certainty was simply because God had called him and promised to tell him when he reached his destination. Faith propels us to follow God trusting that he will lead us.

Faith calls us to trust God in our relationships, careers, and challenges. It reminds us that He is our shield and reward. By faith we testify that His promises are sure, and that He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us. When doubts arise, we can look to Abraham’s example and be encouraged to persevere. By faith we please God and inherit His blessings.

What are the areas where God is calling you to live by faith? What promises are you struggling to believe? Are you waiting for God to act in a situation that seems impossible? Remember that the God who fulfilled His promises to Abraham and Sarah is faithful. Let us give glory to Him by trusting wholly in His power and goodness.

Faith is about living a life that honors God. It is about acknowledging His greatness, relying on His strength, and walking in obedience to His word. May we, like Abraham and Sarah, be found faithful, trusting in the God who never fails.