Abraham as a Man of Faith

Abraham responded positively to God's call despite his lack of knowledge of the being calling him.

Abraham responded with total obedience and did not take time to inquire what God wanted him to do.

He responded with utmost trust and confidence in God that all would be well even though he had no any experience with Him.

Abraham willingly left his native land and went to a strange land which he was shown despite his elderly age of 75 without being mindful of his personal comfort (Genesis 12:4ft).

Abraham believed in God's promises though most of them seemed impossible to fulfill particularly that of having a son and many descendants when his wife was barren and both were already over aged (Genesis 15:5).

Abraham abandoned the worshiping of his traditional gods and started worshipping God. This was a remarkable change since he took on a belief totally new.

Abraham changed his name and that of his wife. He was originally called Abram and his wife was known to be Sarai but this changed to Abraham and Sarah respectively after meeting God (Genesis 17:5 and 15)

Abraham circumcised himself and all his male descendants as of his covenant with God without any question even though he was already 99 years (Genesis 17:23-27).

Abraham also built an altar which he used for worshiping God in several places including Bethel (Genesis 12:7-9).

Abraham offered sacrifice to God in places like Bethel and Shechem. This showed his obedience, faith and trust in God.

Abraham pleaded with God through prayer to spare the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18: 16ff).

Abraham left his slave wife, Hagar and her son Ishmael upon God's promises to him about them (Genesis 21:9-21).

Abraham willingly accepted to offer his son as sacrifice to God who tested him purposely to know his obedience and whether he honoured Him (Genesis 22:1 ff).

Revision Questions

1.    Comment on Abraham's response to his call

2.    How did; Abraham come to be called the faithful?

3.    Examine the ways in which Abraham's life was a reflection of faith.

4.    How can Christians show their faith in God?

•              Taking Holy Communion

•              Praying

•              Going for missionary journeys

•              Repentance

•              Giving testimonies

•              Fellowshipping

•              Praising and worshiping Him.

•              Fasting

•              Giving offerings and tithes

•              Attending church services

Figure 4: Map of Abram's Journey from Ur to Haran to Egypt

The Bible shifts its focus in Genesis 12 from the history of the entire human race to a man named Abram, the first Hebrew, and he lived in Ur of the Chaldees. Later God appeared to Abram and promised him that if he would leave his country and journey to a land that he has never seen, God would make of his descendants a great nation and through them the Savior of the world would come, through his "seed." Later God changed his name to Abraham which means "father of a many nations" and he obeyed God and journeyed to the land of Canaan. The Lord also spoke a promise that anyone who blessed Abraham and his descendants would be blessed and anyone who cursed Abraham and his descendants would be cursed.