Since everyone who places his or her faith in Jesus is in effect a child of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9), let’s discover more about this faithful partner who lived to be a blessing to everyone he met. Two lessons from now we will see why God changed Abram's name to Abraham. promised Abram saying, "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your This is not unusual for God to do; He often provides incentive by leading a person through experiences in preparation for a more formal calling later. What has been your impression of a patriarchal society, and in what ways do the cornerstones of the ancient Hebrew patriarchal society — go’el, meaning to “redeem,” and beth ab, meaning “the Father’s house” — differ from what has been your understanding? Only a few of our ancestors followed God and His way of righteousness; Having faith and doing good works is a living faith. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also” (Romans 4:9-11). Abraham passed the test. Hundreds of years earlier, the Hebrews’ ancestors, Abraham and Sarah, were already living out that mission. There he built an altar Next, the Scriptures say: "So [Abram] built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. What did he do? What example of Abraham’s faith was Paul referring to? For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:16-17). (Gen. 12:4-5). And there is a difference between relying on the law, as the Jews did, and doing good works that demonstrate obedience and living faith. Friends, we must stop here today. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). Between Shem and Abram, there were ten generations, To make him a blessing, first to the nation that would come from him—the Israelites—and ultimately to all the people of the earth. Abraham and his seed, his true descendants who have faith, will inherit the promises of God given to Abraham. Like all of Adam's offspring, Abram was born in the darkness of sin. Facebook same mother. So important was that relationship, that Romans 4 traces our faith back to Abraham. We want to hear from you! be a blessing and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.". The same promise is reiterated in Genesis 22 when Abraham was ready to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac, his promised son. He did it because They provided for the Hebrews — as well as for us — a powerful example of how to be God’s partners in redeeming and restoring His lost children. John W. Ritenbaugh the land. An ordained minister, he holds the chair of biblical cultural studies as a religion instructor at Holland Christian Schools in Holland, Michigan. Come join the conversation on our blog and share your answers to the questions above! It is like an elderly man who has no children and Abraham simply believed that God would do what He said. Abraham believed the truth from the mouths of God’s messengers and from the mouth of the Lord. Thus, the answer to our original question, why did God choose Abram is answered in this Midrash. which the promised Savior would come. In this setting, the beth ab was the context through which each member was connected to the rest of society. Responding in faith, he left Harran. Do you remember how God had promised One who would come into the world to Did God do what He promised? (Gen. 11:27) Lot was the son of Abram's older brother. reason God could overlook Abram's sins was because Abram believed God and brought to Him the Japheth? Abraham’s faith was tested again, in the most challenging way. We are happy to be able to return today to present your program This establishes another general pattern for his faithful children. Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. God is tender in His phrasing, for what he commands Abraham to do foreshadows Christ's own sacrifice later and so has special meaning to God. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. Although that is true, redemption is bigger than that. Our faith is perfected by doing good works. Let us listen now to what God said to Abram. when God called Abram, God was moving forward with His plan to bring into the world the It is not said how the Lord appeared to him. Abram's father's name was Terah. Here is a great truth. God purposely chose such a person. All Rights Reserved. Whereas Adam and Eve failed to faithfully obey God, Abraham eagerly demonstrated what a faithful partnership with God looks like. Second: Why did God want to He fully appreciated who and what God is: He is GOD! Perhaps this illustration seems a little absurd; nonetheless, this is the kind of promise God made — Genesis 6:5. The Word See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. First of all, Abraham was justified by faith. world to die in the place of sinners. (Gen. 12:7,8) What was the first thing that Abram The Jewish writer, Matthew, certainly intended to communicate more than just biological descent when he began Jesus’ family tree with Abraham. Therefore, it is interesting to note that God’s work of recovery began from Abraham. another country? reason. (Gen. 13:15-17). The Christian Fight (Part Seven). The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Seven). He did not cultivate its friendship but used it as necessity required, though in a guarded way, lest he should in some way abuse his privileges with God. Why God Called Abraham Genesis 11,12 Peace be with you, listening friends. Do Abram lived in a city named Ur, which was located in the country of Chaldea, known today as Iraq. To follow God, Abraham made many personal sacrifices with few positive outcomes to validate his troubles. Canaan, and they arrived there." We need to believe and be willingly obedient to God, to come out of this world and depart from sin. But, of all the people on the face of the earth, why did God … Because God planned to make of Abram a new nation. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). Used by permission. The patriarch’s role and responsibilities, Using the resources of the Father’s house. Palestine to Abram's descendants? this man as "the friend of God" and "the father of all who believe." I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great. How could this happen? The people This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to your inbox. We can only imagine the thoughts that must have raced through Abraham's mind! That is why God promised Abram saying, "I will make you into a great nation and you will This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. His wife was sixty-five and childless. Abram's father did not know the true God and neither did Abram. As John 8:39 says: “If you were Abraham’s children you would do the works of Abraham.”. The promises given to Abraham are part of the gospel message—the good news. This city was not far from where Nimrod tried to build the city of Babel with its tall tower. Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe, Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/faith/the-faith-of-abraham/, God’s Promises: Rock-Solid Hope and Assurance, Spiritual Warfare: How to Win and How to Lose. From that point on, the biblical story reveals a series of disappointing choices made by God’s human partners that resulted in the return of chaos to God’s created order. That is the promise {or covenant} God made to Abram-on the condition that he leave his country they teach concerning this man who was called the friend of God. We are blessed through the righteous Seed of Abraham, who is Jesus Christ. But he believed God, who had promised that one day he and his descendants would inherit that land. [Lesson 19: Abraham, God's Friend]. Abraham’s willingness to give up his son was a type of God the Father’s willingness to give His only begotten Son (Christ) as a sacrifice.
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