As discussed in the previous post, Faith?
of Abraham, the great patriarch was a man of faith: sincere, soul-saving, immature,
and inconsistent faith.
In Genesis 15, God renewed His covenant to give Abraham and
Sarah descendants as numerous as the stars.
In chapter 16, Abraham and Sarah plot to get their servant Hagar
pregnant. In chapter 20, the two great
heroes of the faith revived their old scam of pretending Sarah was Abraham’s
sister. Abraham’s faith, immature and
inconsistent as it was, couldn’t transform Abraham’s character. So God
kept working on him.
Through all of Abraham’s failings, God kept stepping in,
interceding, showing him favor, giving him
signs, and reminding him of the promises. The Lord’s purpose was to transform him into
a man with strong, mature, and consistent faith. Such a
man would be more than the sperm donor by whom a promised child was
conceived. He would be the FATHER whose
faith laid the foundation for a nation.
For I have known him, in
order that he may command his children and his household after him, that
they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord
may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him. (Genesis 18:19)
God’s plan worked.
Over time, Abraham matured from a believer who couldn’t go two sentences
without questioning God’s promise (Genesis 15:6-8) to a man who could pass the
ultimate test of faith.
[It] came to pass after these things that God tested
Abraham, . . . “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go
to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the
mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
God said, “Abraham, Give me a sign.”
. . . Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to
slay his son.
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and
said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So, he said, “Here I am.”
And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything
to him; for now I know that you fear
God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis
22: 10-12)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and
he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son . . . concluding
that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead (Hebrews 11: 17-19).
Abraham isn’t a hero of the faith because of how his faith
began but because of what his faith became.
After Abraham passed the test of faith, God renewed the
covenant again but this time the Lord added a clause.
In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice”
(Genesis 22: 18).
That seed added because Abraham was faith-full, that Seed is
JESUS.
Saving faith is only the beginning of our journey. Believe in Jesus enough to give your life to
Him. Then believe in Jesus more so that
your life is transformed by Him.
Be warned. That’s
when the big test will come.
Be encouraged. Only
then will the greatest Blessing happen.
---Anderson T. Graves II is a
writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural
leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in
Fairfield, Alabama; executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth
Networking Organization (SAYNO);
and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for
Human Development (NIHD).
Subscribe to my personal blog www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
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P O Box 132
Fairfield, Al 35064
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