Abraham: The Seed of Faith Begins to Grow

Abraham: The Seed of Faith Begins to Grow
>>> Read Genesis 12:1-8 <<<
Abraham is a walking, talking illustration of how a believer matures in his faith. We are shown examples of how he fails in faith – and examples of how he shines. The story of Abraham’s life, though, is really about God’s faithfulness and the way He cultivates friendship with a believer. God does not ask us to have blind faith, instead He reveals His character and ways to us; He confides in us about His plans, and He promises to provide all we need so we are able to do His will.

As we read his story, we see that God gradually enlarges Abraham’s capacity to understand who He is; for in the beginning, Abraham didn’t know God at all. The world at that time consisted of people who had been scattered out from Babel. Ur of the Chaldeas was a city filled with idol worship (Joshua 24: 2) – archaeological discoveries show that they had a city god and a moon god.

Acts 7:2-4 tells us that “the God of glory” appeared to Abram while he still lived in Ur. The God of glory – this was the first time God had been revealed by that name and in that character; His glorious splendor must have out-shown that moon god and gotten Abram’s attention.

Abram and Sarai began their trek into the unknown when God called them to leave home, relatives and country. They were to go to “the land which I will show you” – that was all they were told about their destination. Abram was told to leave the relatives in his father's house (Gen. 12:1; Acts 7:2) -- a directive which Abram did not follow. It appears that Abram’s father took charge of the trip (Gen. 11:31) and that they were waylaid at Haran (which means "parched") until his father died. The Word of God tells us that the family settled there (Gen. 11:31) – this was not a rest stop – and it was not the destination God had in mind.

During his time at Haran, God did not reveal Himself further to Abram; He was silent. Verse 5 tells us that the family had acquired possessions during their stay at Haran. Wealth acquired in the place of disobedience is the world’s wealth and, in Abram’s case, reveals his connection to earth, and not to God. Abram had exercised faith by leaving his homeland and the idolatrous life he had there, but he did not yet understand God’s full purpose for him.

There was no fresh revelation to Abram’s soul during his stay in Haran. We must act in accordance with the light already communicated, and then God will give us more. God will never drag us along the path of truehearted discipleship. . . He does not drag, but draws, us along the path which leads to indescribable blessedness in Himself. C.H. Mackintosh

It took the death of his father to get Abram moving in the right direction again. This is a picture of death to the natural, worldly ties that keep us from the life of faith. Following this death, Abram returned to the path of faith – a difficult path – a path where God alone would sustain his soul. The difficulties of the way would wean Abram from the world while anchoring his soul in the God who provides everything for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2-4).

When Abram left Haran and moved forward in the direction of faith, he came to Moreh. There were Canaanites in that area and they could prove to be a trial for Abram, so the Lord appeared to him and fortified His original promise. More specific than the “I will make you a great nation” (vs 2), God now mentions that Abram (who has a barren wife) will have descendants and that they will inherit the land the Canaanites now occupy. Abram’s response is to worship the Lord with an altar.

God had directed Abram’s attention away from the Canaanite and onto Himself. He reveals Himself as the One who will give the land to Abram; Abram is not going to worry about the Canaanite, he is going to worship God and allow God to do all He said He would do. Abram continues on to Bethel where he builds another altar and pitches his tent. The altar and the tent are characteristic of Abraham and his message to believers. He is a worshipper of the one true God (the altar) and he is a ‘stranger’ in the world (the tent). As a stranger in the world, he has everything in God and nothing on the earth. This does not mean that he never owns a possession; rather it means that his heart is never possessed by the world.

God did not take Abram to a place of wonderful rest, for his faith would not mature there. Instead, He took him to the place where Abram would learn who God is and how to have faith in Him. This is the very same place where He will take us!

Our home, our hope, our inheritance are all above – if we are led by the Spirit into the understanding of this truth, we could never be satisfied to maintain a standing, seek a name, or lay up an inheritance on the earth. CHM
LJ 8/09