Other than Jesus, there are
few (if any) people in scripture more prominent than Abraham is. He is prominent
in both the Old and New Testaments. He was the source of the Jewish people. The
promise of the Christ is evident in the promises God made to him (Genesis 12:3).
This one man became a nation, and through that nation God sent His Son, the
Christ. Abraham was wealthy with a name that lives among the Jewish, the
Christian, and the Muslim peoples. His recognizable name has endured for around
4000 years (who will know your name in 150 years?).
Abraham performed some of the most astounding acts of obedience that occurred in
scripture! Yet, scripture does not use Abraham as an outstanding example of
obedience, but as an exceptional example of faith.
“Oh, I wish I could be Abraham!” Really? “Yes!” Do you mean you wish you had
what Abraham had materially, or do you mean you wish you could develop the faith
that led Abraham to do what he did?
Do you mean you wish you could leave your homeland and your family, recover from
mistakes, make huge material sacrifices for a self-centered nephew, tell your
son (Ishmael) good-bye, knowingly be prepared to kill your son whom God promised
(Isaac), and have serious conflict with your spouse?
Abraham had an astounding faith in God which resulted in astounding obedience.
However, without that remarkable faith there could not have been the remarkable
obedience. Because he had that faith, he simply did what naturally expressed his
trust in God. His faith demonstrated itself through his obedience. As James
said:
“You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works,
faith was perfected (completed) . . .”
James 2:22, NASV
Walking with God in genuine trust commonly requires great costs. Spiritual
maturity is neither simple nor easy. No matter what we do as Christians,
salvation always will be a product of God’s mercy and grace. Never will it be a
matter of what we have done for God, but what God did for us in Jesus’ death and
resurrection.
David Chadwell
Link to other Writings of David Chadwell