Into the Bible Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11candid pictures are given of great men whose faith stands out in Old Testament history like stars on a dark night.
All except Abel and Enoch are descendants of Abraham, the man of faith. Abraham’s faith it was so big that God worked several times through it.
Abraham is given nearly half the space, double that allotted to the lawgiver, Moses. Similarly, in Genesisthe story of Abraham and his family stretches throughout the book from chapter 11 to chapter 50, while only two chapters are given to the full story of creation.
What was there in Abraham’s life that distinguished him as a man of faith? His life story begins in Ur of the Chaldeans, where he lived in a comfortable home and pleasant circumstances.
Archeology has revealed that Ur, located not far from Babylon, was a prosperous city with fine houses, beautiful parks, and public buildings.
Abraham was comfortable and safe in Ur, but it was also a wicked city where pagan sacrifices abounded, including human sacrifices. This was not a place to nurture Abraham’s faith. According to Genesis 12:1, God commanded Abraham to leave Ur, leave his kindred, and live in tents for the rest of his life, and he did.
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What was Abraham’s faith like?
For the Christian, the life of faith is living in the place designated by God in this life. While he is free to pray for changes in our physical circumstances, a Christian is willing to accept by faith the place God designates for his service and witness.
In Abraham’s life, manifested faith that God would supply his needs: “By faith he made his home in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who are heirs with him of the same promise” (Heb. 11:9). In his daily walk, Abraham learned to trust in the Lord. God’s provision It wasn’t just a matter of faith for a whilebut it was also a matter of faith for eternity.
Hebrews 11:10 reveals that, in addition to accepting the promise that his descendants would inherit the earth, Abraham looked forward to his own eternity, “for he expected the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God“(Heb. 11:10). Abraham had hope in this life, but he also had hope in a life to come.
What can we learn from Abraham’s faith?
Below you will learn several things that you can learn from the faith of Abraham to apply in your life:
1. Our possessions are always temporary.
How important it is for those who live by faith to recognize that earthly possessions are always temporary, and that only eternal ones remain forever. God has not exhausted his grace in providing for us in this life. For the Christian, there is also the hope of the blessing of our eternal home, the New Jerusalem, the central feature of the new heaven and new earth.
Abraham, despite his great faith, had a great frustration. For most of his life, he and his wife, Sarah, had no children. How could the promises of many nations from him and his descendants who would inherit the land be fulfilled, if he could not have children?
According to Genesis 15:1-3Abraham suggested that his chief servant, Eliezer, be made his heir, but God said: “This man will not be your heir“(Genesis 15:4). Sarah as well, though she is praised for her faith in Hebrews 11:11suggested to Abraham that he have a son with Hagar, an Egyptian slave that had been brought from Egypt.
In due time Ishmael was born and Abraham’s heart was glad. But this was not God’s plan for the line of faith that would culminate in Jesus. When Abraham was already ninety-nine years old and Sarah was ninety, there was really no human basis for the hope that Sarah would have a child. However, God said:
“Sarah, your wife, will give birth to you a son, and you will call his name Isaac” (Genesis 17:19).
Hebrews records: “By faith Abraham, though he was of age – and Sarah was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered the one who had made the promise faithful. And so from this man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and innumerable as the sand on the seashore “(Heb. 11:11-12). Abraham by faith believed that God would supernaturally give him a son.
2. Live by faith, not control
Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from his Maker. So he left with only one promise and without even knowing beforehand where he was going, Abraham stepped forward in faith. Hebrews 11:8.
Abraham is known as the father of our faith (Galatians 3:7). whatWhy? Abraham marked the course of his life by faith, giving us an example to follow. God asked her to go on a trip with him. A journey that would take him to his destination, promising him that he would make him a great nation, make his name great and bless all the peoples of the earth through him (Genesis 12:2-3).
However, Abraham did not get to know where he was going, what he would experience, how he would get there, how long it would take, or what his life would be like when he got there. Having nothing but God’s promise, Abraham took a step toward faith.
What is the faith?
It is the certainty that something we want is going to happen. It is the security that what we long for awaits us, even if we cannot see it later. Hebrews 11:1. It is difficult to live by faith. Faith is the certainty of something we do not yet have. By definition, this attacks my sense of logic.
Rather than chart my course by faith, I prefer to use my human experience, wisdom, and effort to control my life to protect myself from failure, discomfort, or downturns. I put a lot of mental and emotional effort into preparing myself for whatever I may experience.
This is why I inevitably overpack when traveling or expend excessive mental energy thinking about possible scenarios for events or conversations I need to have. My dominant focus is on control. I put a lot of mental and emotional effort into preparing myself for whatever I may experience.
How do I get control? What should I avoid to keep it?
Unfortunately, the belief that we can control our lives or circumstances is an illusion and a losing proposition that often leads to anxiety and insecurity. This is precisely what we are trying to control.
Can you identify ways in which you take control?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you avoid conversations with people who have a different point of view than yours?
- Do you let your emotions turn people off in conversations?
Setting a faith course can help us learn to allow influence in our lives without fear. Trusting in God is a decision that will never fail us. Anxiety and insecurity do not promote relationship building. First, it is very difficult to think about others when I am insecure and anxious; my mind is overwhelmed by
Second, anxiety and insecurity drive unhealthy emotionally stimulated decision-making, and third, it makes others feel anxious and insecure, which makes them want to avoid me. A life founded on faith is not controlled by anxiety and insecurity. He pauses and reflects:
- Are you aware of your own anxiety and insecurity?
- Are you able to recognize these emotions before they affect those around you?
- Do you make yourself available to God to pray through your anxiety and insecurity?
- Are you willing to consider that you have charted the course of your life on something other than faith?
3. It is the journey that shapes us
Abraham lived by faith as an immigrant in his promised land as if it belonged to someone else. He traveled the land living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were convinced that they were also joint heirs of the same promise. His eyes of faith were fixed on the city of unshakable foundations, whose architect and builder is God himself. Hebrews 11:9-10.
“Life is a journey not a destination” is a quote often attributed to , but it illustrates an important part of Abraham’s life. He traveled many years on his way to his inheritance. Although God was able to fulfill his destiny anywhere, he allowed Abraham to travel. Why?
Take a look at:
It was during the journey that Abraham forged his relationship with God, ensuring that he himself would have the heart, character and spirituality to appreciate and hold on to his heritage. The “journey” is the avenue in which we discover and resolve our differences with God. It is time to become aware of the convictions that we must develop. It will expose any lack of trust and help us clear up any mistaken views of God.
These are experiences important to developing a healthy relationship with God. Our relationship with God keeps us moving as we wait for him to reveal and appreciate our destiny. She pauses and reflects:
- Are there Biblical convictions that you find difficult to embrace?
- Write them down and make the decision to resolve them (Bible study and prayer) with God.
Here are some verses that will help you understand many things. It may be a little hard for you to accept, but it is the word of God:
- Life is not always fair (1 Peter 2:19-24 NIV).
- God’s way can make me happier than mine (Hebrews 11:24-26 NIV )
- God won’t let me experience more than I can handle (1 Corinthians 10:11-13 NIV).
- The heart is not capable of fully knowing how we are doing. We need help, conversations and feedback (Hebrews 3:12-14 NIV ).
4. We must focus on the promises
Abraham’s faith was a great example; he never stopped believing in God’s promise, because he strengthened himself in it to beget a son. And because he was strong in faith and convinced that God had all the power necessary to fulfill his promises, Abraham glorified God! Romans 4: 20-21.
We live extraordinary times. The future has never seemed so uncertain. The job market has never looked so fragile, the political climate has never been more divided, and our calendar has never felt so unpredictable.
Abraham experienced many of these same challenges on his journey. What we can learn from Abraham it’s that his focus was on God’s power to fulfill his promises and not on the circumstances he was facing. Abraham knew that God was willing and able to keep all the promises he made to him.
What are some of God’s promises that we should hold on to?
Here are some biblical texts that you should cling to to strengthen your faith:
- He strengthens the weary and increases the power of the weak.. Isaiah 40:29.
- When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not run over you. When you walk through fire, you won’t get burned; the flames won’t set you on fire. Isaiah 43:2.
- That is why I tell you that everything you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.. Mark 11:24 NIV.
- Don’t worry about anything, but in every situation, with prayer and…