Introduction
The Call of Abraham, the Father of faith, known initially as Abram, stands as a central figure in Genesis 12, epitomizing faith by responding to God’s call with obedience. The Lord’s directive to leave everything familiar—his country, people, and family—and venture into an unknown land sets a profound example of faith in action. This narrative begins with a transformative command: “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”
Enjoy listening to a discussion about Abraham, his call, his faith, his hardship, and God’s blessing.
The Nature of True Faith
Abraham’s journey exemplifies unwavering faith. He did not doubt the fulfillment of God’s promises despite the apparent impossibility of circumstances. His story teaches us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of unseen realities. As God promised to make him “a great nation” and “bless those who bless you,” Abraham believed and acted, showing that faith must be active and responsive.
Facing Challenges and Embracing the Promises
As Abraham traveled to Canaan, he encountered numerous trials, including the presence of the Canaanites in the promised land and a severe famine that forced him to Egypt. These adversities tested his faith, especially when what he saw did not align with what God had promised. Yet, Abraham’s journey underscores a crucial lesson: the essence of faith lies in trusting God’s promises beyond the immediate challenges.
Strategic Faith in Crisis: The Egyptian Sojourn
Abraham’s time in Egypt is particularly telling of his strategic approach to faith. Faced with the threat of death due to Sarah’s beauty, Abraham claimed she was his sister to protect both of their lives. This happening may raise ethical questions, but it also highlights the complexities of faith in practice. It shows that faith involves making difficult decisions to navigate perilous situations while still holding onto divine promises. It also shows you that God’s knows your heart and the reasons why you are having to do what you have to do in certain seasons of your life to survive for what He has ahead for you.
Faith to be Blessed in Famine
Against all hope, Abraham believed and thus became what God said he would. God rewards our faith even in times of famine, as we learn from Abraham. One could have thrown their hands up and gone back to their old life, as the Apostle Peter did after he denied Christ three times. It’s said, “if Abraham would have looked back, he would have went back.” Yet, here was Abraham, obeying God, doing the hard things, and now facing a “famine!” What? Yet, God used the famine to bless Abraham. It was the lack of food, water, the inability to work, and hard times—or as Hebrews calls it, “hardship”—that disciplined Abraham, moving him to go to a place he had never gone before outside of the hardship forcing him, Egypt.
God blessed Abraham, told him that He was going to make him great and to be a blessing to the nations of the world, but here he was in desperate need of provision from a dark, demonic nation whose leader thought he was a god, and which was filled with all kinds of evil practices that God detests. Yet, it was where God was going to bless him.
Knowing this nation, Egypt, would take any “good thing” you have, and that they were driven by their fleshly, sexual passions, Abraham had to strategize how they could survive while they were in Egypt. He knew this perverse nation would take any attractive person you had in your family for their own, a lot like today’s culture that we live in as we see what is happening in Hollywood, music industry, and global talent shows, etc.
His plan: tell them you are my sister, and they will treat me well because of you. What? How could that be a good, Godly, plan? Yet, in it all, God did that very thing. Pharaoh, the leader who thought he was a god, took Sarah as his wife as he suspected he would, and blessed Abraham because he thought Sarah was his sister.
Abraham, in a famine, in an evil nation, was blessed by the leader of the nation with sheep, cattle, male and female donkeys, men and women servants, and camels. How could this be? God! Say, “God will bless me even in a famine if I will remain faithful to His voice, His promises.”
Let’s understand his blessing compared to our understanding and life today. Abraham was blessed with clothing, food, and milk (sheep); he was blessed with food and tractors (cattle); he was blessed with pickup trucks (donkeys) and the ability to produce as many pickup trucks as he would like (male and female donkeys); he was given male and female employees to work his business; and given transfer trucks (camels) who could transport an estimated thousand pounds each.
God Backs Abraham Up
We’re told to pray for those in authority over us so that we’ll have a peaceful life. It’s tempting to get caught up with offense and plans to try and push those in authority to do what is right, but we’re not called to do that. We see here, that God saw it all. He was aware of the hardship that drove them to Egypt. He was aware this leader, Pharaoh, thought he was a god. Yet, He knows that He directs the king’s heart, Pharaoh’s heart, like a watercourse. That is exactly what God did when He struck Pharaoh and his household with a disease. God led Pharaoh to repent of his wrong actions towards His people, Abraham. Not only that, God caused the watercourse of Pharaoh’s heart to give him his wife, Sarah, back, and to force him to leave with all the blessings that Abraham acquired from Pharaoh while they were with them. Say, “God’s got this! I only need to believe and trust Him.” By faith, make room for God’s blessing in your life, as He promised, even in the midst of famine and hardship.
Wealth Transfer in Times of Famine
Abraham, driven by famine, lack, pressure, hunger, thirst, and joblessness (unable to farm the land), went into Egypt, but it was there that God transferred wealth that was in the hands and control of Egypt into the hands of Abraham. For “a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous,” Proverbs 13:22.
What were the results of being forced into Egypt by famine? They involved a wealth transfer. “Abraham had become wealthy in livestock (food, tractors, milk) and in silver and gold,” Genesis 13:2.
Do not let the psychological impact of a famine shake your faith, lead you into a time of surrender, or take you into a cave of despair and depression. No, keep your faith, make your strategic moves in the fear of the Lord as you abide with Him. We have a free abiding plan for you at iAbide.org.
Jesus tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned,” John 15:5-6 NKJV.
Legacy of Faith and Forward Vision
Abraham’s life was not just about his personal promises from God but also about the impact on future generations. His willingness to live out his faith without seeing all promises fulfilled in his lifetime illustrates a forward-thinking faith that transcends generations. This legacy aspect is pivotal as it connects with the broader narrative of God’s enduring promises through Abraham’s lineage.
The Modern-Day Relevance
Today, Abraham’s story remains a source of inspiration. It teaches that faith involves trusting in God’s promises through uncertain and challenging times. It also calls for a proactive faith that is ready to take strategic actions when necessary. Abraham’s example encourages believers to persevere in faith while navigating the complexities of modern life, holding onto God’s promises, and thinking beyond one’s immediate circumstances.
Conclusion: Embracing the Journey of Faith
Abraham’s journey from a familiar land to a promised inheritance is a powerful narrative of faith, obedience, and legacy. His life reminds us that it takes faith and patience to inherit the promises of God in our lives. His life encourages us to embrace the journey of faith with courage, strategic wisdom, and a vision for the future. Just as Abraham laid foundations for the future blessings of many nations, so are we called to live a life of faith that prepares the way for future generations.
Standing on the Promises of God
This reminds me of the Hymn “Standing on the Promises of God” as that is what Abrham, the father of faith, was known for and is our example of who we’re to stand on the promise of God no matter what comes our way.
Standing on the Promises of God
Author: Russell Kelso Carter (1886)
1 Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
3 Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]
4 Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]