Last week, we learned about the purpose of Abraham and if you haven’t checked out that post, then you can check it out here.
We also touched briefly on the faith that Abraham had and how it was in connection to God’s plan in choosing him. Yet, for this week, our sole emphasis will be on the reasons why God chose him for His will.
Faith and Deeds
God is sovereign in all of His ways. The bible says that He sits high and looks low. There is nothing hidden from the sight of God.
God chose Abraham with the foreknowledge of Genesis 22 (the call to sacrifice his son Isaac). The Lord already knew the capacity of faith that Abraham had, even before he was born.
Abraham believed God; and his actions lined up with his faith. Abraham was obedient to everything that God called him to do. And God chose him with the knowledge that he would be.
Our obedience is in connection to our faith. We cannot proclaim with our mouth that we believe God, but our actions don’t line up with that.
This is why Abraham is referred to as the father of faith, because his actions worked in accordance with his faith.
“Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
James 2:21-22 NIV
“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”
James 2:24 NIV
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
James 2:26 NIV
So, God chose Abraham to be a representation of how we should carry out our faith with deeds.
The Sacrifice (Genesis 22)
Abraham was seventy-five years old when God first made the promise to him about having a direct descendant of his own. And that the Lord was going to make him into a great nation. The Lord goes on to tell him that the land that he sees; the Lord, is going to give that land to his descendants.
Abraham was a hundred years old when Isaac was born. It took thirty-five years for the promise to manifest.
A year prior, the Lord told Abraham that he was going to have a son, and to name him Isaac. That this is the son that he has been waiting for. That this son shall inherit the promise.
But later in Genesis 22, the same son of promise, God calls Abraham to sacrifice him.
The bible says that Abraham did not hesitate. The next morning, he got up, ready to go, and did what the Lord called him to do.
And the bible goes on to say, “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me” (Genesis 22:16-18 NLT).
The Lord swore by His own name that He would expand the blessings of Abraham because of his obedience. And because Abraham didn’t withhold his promise child.
Abraham not only had the faith that God was going to supply him with the child that He promised, but also that God could save his child even from death.
“…Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing”
Romans 4:17 NLT
“Abraham, who received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.’ Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead”
Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT
God wants us to have faith like Abraham. Faith in not only the manifestation of the promise, but that God is true to His word despite what He may call us to do. And our faith must remain in Him and the promise that He first gave us.
So, God chose Abraham to be a testament of unrestricted faith. As we go about our day, how can we stretch our faith in God? What are some areas we have been struggling to have faith in? We must remember we are witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Others are watching us and are encouraged because of the faith that we demonstrate in our lives. So, live in expectation that God is going to do what He said He was going to do.
Y’all have a great week and don’t forget to uplift, inspire, enlighten, and, more importantly, encourage somebody. Share this post with someone and if you have any prayer request or just want to chat, then you can submit them here.
