The Bible tells us that “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3, Genesis 15:6). Does that mean that Abraham always got things right along the faith walk? Certainly not. We only have to read his story to discover how often he failed. Yet, every step of the way, God grew his faith. It was a great act of faith, that Abraham left his comfortable life to go into Canaan to begin with.
“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So, Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him (Genesis 12:1-4).
Abraham left his family, his comfort, and the gods they worshipped to go into an unknown land where God had sent him. God had promised that he would make of him a great nation, make his name great, and thereby to bless the world through him. Many men had wanted selfishly to gain all this. Would Abraham see the fulfillment of all these promises in his lifetime? Certainly not; but, from his seed would come the Savior of the World and God is yet to fulfill all of His promises to Abraham still in the future. Where has God asked you to go? Has He asked you in faith to believe Him, to leave everything to follow Him into the unknown?
LEARNING TO TRUST GOD IN FAITH
Upon his arrival in the land, a famine came. Abraham was forced to flee to Egypt for food. But notice, he did not go back to Haran. How often, when trials or hardships come, we want to flee back to where we came from? Do we cast aside our faith, desiring to return to our former comforts? Yes, Abraham made many wrong steps along this path toward fully trusting God with everything. But, through it all, God was teaching Abraham to trust in Him who had called Him. It was many years before Abraham was given the promised son. How was he to become a great nation if he had no children? He questioned God often and the promise was always made. Growing weary of waiting, he took the matter into his own hands and bore a child by his wife’s handmaid.
How often when God asks us to wait, we take the matter into our own hands? How could it be that after he failed to wait faithfully upon God, God still counted his faith for righteousness? Ah, because it was God’s promise that would stand. God was faithful, and he needed Abraham to know that. He needed Abraham to learn to trust Him even when everything looked impossible. It was more than 25 years before God gave him Isaac. When the timing of God was fulfilled, he was born. Not until all could see that it was God’s miracle, not Sarah or Abraham’s own ability. No longer could Sarah bare a child, long after menopause; God performed this miracle.
How long have you been waiting for God’s answer? Don’t give up and don’t turn back. God will accomplish all that He has promised. Let Him be the guide.
Abraham: A FAITH WILLING TO SACRIFICE ALL
It is not until I come to the end of me, that I can rest fully in Him. Wasn’t that what Abraham learned? When God commanded him to take his son high on the mountain to sacrifice him on the altar, Abraham trusted God had a plan. Did he know what that plan was? No! Yet, every step of that journey he trusted that God would either raise Isaac from the dead or provide a substitutionary sacrifice. It wasn’t until Abraham held the knife in his hand, ready to step forward in faith; that God said:
“Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son” (Genesis 22:12-13).
What has God asked you to let go of, to be willing to sacrifice if need be? Is there something you are clinging too: money, possessions, power, a job?
ROMANS 4
7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations,
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification.
A RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT MY OWN
Because of Jesus Christ, I am clothed in a righteousness not my own; by faith in Him. Will you trust Him today as your Savior? Rest in Him, His plan is always good. Wait upon Him whatever your circumstance!
I know. Today, I too stand at a difficult crossroad. I daresay the road appears impossible; however, like David I will say.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord (Psalm 27:13-14).
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
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ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY
A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.
WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”
Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.