Abraham Believed

And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).

What a great testimony the Spirit grants to us of this splendid man of faith, Hebrews 11:8-19. His faith took him on the journey from Ur, throughout all God’s dealings with him. He received one promise after another from God, right till the time of offering Isaac in obedience to Him. His faith was so great that he believed “that God was able to raise him (Isaac) up, even from the dead,” (Hebrews 11:19) —and in a sense, that was what took place.

When God appeared to him the fourth time, (Genesis 15:1), Abraham wondered at the seeming delay regarding God’s promise of the seed. The Lord showed him the stars of heaven and assured him of the number of his descendants, whereas in His third appearance the Lord showed him that his seed would be as the dust of the earth, (Genesis 13:16). But the Lord still had not given him any seed, and in Genesis 16 it records Abraham’s and Sarah’s lapse of faith, causing untold problems then and even now.

Abraham had a lot to learn regarding faith and patience. God had a set time for the seed’s appearing and it must be Sarah’s seed, not Hagar’s. It must also be a miracle seed, for Sarah’s womb must become “dead,” and even Abraham’s own body also “dead.”

So the Lord made it clear that all had been precisely planned by Him. Isaac would be born when Abraham was 100. There was no delay or hastening. Another remarkable feature of the fulfilment of the redemption promise is that Isaac was born 2000 years after Abel, both being types of our Lord Jesus—Abel offered a burnt offering, and was killed. Isaac voluntarily surrendered himself as the burnt offering, and in a spiritual type was raised from the dead. Again, 2000 years after Isaac, the Lord Jesus Himself completed and fulfilled the redemption promises and prophecy—in the fullness of God’s time!

Abraham’s faith did not begin when God showed him the stars. It commenced in Ur, and it characterized his whole earthly pilgrimage, and reached its zenith when in total obedience he offered Isaac on Mount Moriah. Because of his faith, God imputed righteousness to him.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.