The Faith of Abraham (Part-3) : Greater Faith

We now move into looking at the final phase of Abraham's life in his journey of faith.

Abraham came to a place of faith in God and he received the fulfillment of the promise.
Romans 4:17-21 describes the faith that Abraham had.

Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old.

Genesis 21:1-8
1 And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac.
4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me."
7 She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."
8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.

Isaac had grown into a young man, possibly in his 20's or 30's now. We are not sure of his exact age.

At this time, the Lord asks Abraham to do something, he probably never expected - to go to the land of Moriah, the regions surrounding Jerusalem, which was a 3 days journey from where Abraham lived, and offer up Isaac, on one of those mountains, which most likely would have been at Calvary (Mount Gihon).

We read of this in Genesis 22:1-3
The amazing things is Abraham obeys God.
God stays Abraham's hand.
There are several lessons for us here.

1, Abraham made one of his greatest demonstrations of faith in God

Hebrews 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,"
19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

It takes faith to journey into the promise of God for your life. But it takes greater faith to stay true to God, once He has given you the promise. Our devotion and commitment is always to the PROMISE-GIVER and not just the PROMISE. Abraham did just that and he is called the father of faith.

It takes faith to RECEIVE FROM God what He has promised to you. It takes faith to RELEASE TO God what He has given to you.

Abraham received Isaac by faith. By faith, also Abraham offered up Isaac back to God.
Abraham is called the Father of faith, whose example we are called to follow (Romans 4:11,12).

2, In his moment of great obedience, Abraham received one of his greatest revelations of God

He understood God as Jehovah-Jireh.
Obedience is the place of revelation.
John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

Obedience is an expression of our relationship.
John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Obedience can come out of SERVITUDE or can come out of a RELATIONSHIP of love and friendship. Jesus has called us to obey because of love and friendship.

When we walk in obedience He takes our relationship to deeper levels.

James 2:21-23
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." And he was called the friend of God.

Abraham was called the friend of God. He became one because of his faith and obedience (works).

3, His obedience brought blessing and authority

Up until this time God had promised blessing on Abraham and his descendants. We now see God adding to that promise the blessing of authority.

Obedience is the place of blessing and authority - "your descendants shall posses the gate of their enemies".

Genesis 22:16-18
16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—
17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Closing
Abraham a man like us, who walked in faith and obedience to God.

• Abraham the Hebrew (meaning "from the other side") (Genesis 14:13)
• Abraham the worshipper (Genesis 13)
• Abraham the intercessor (Genesis 18)
• Abraham the prophet (Genesis 20:7)
• Abraham the father of faith (Romans 4:11,12 )
• Abraham the friend of God (James 2:23)