Abraham and His God

GOLDEN TEXT: “Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.” —Psalm 25:4

GENESIS 12:1-3; 17:1-9

ABRAHAM—or Abram, as his name originally was—dwelt with his family in Ur of the Chaldees when God first spoke to him. (Gen. 11:28) Higher critics of the Bible at one time claimed that no such place as Ur ever existed, that the whole account of Abraham and of God’s dealing with him was merely a story, a myth. However, archeologists have discovered the ruins of ancient Ur, and many relics of this original home of Abraham are on display in the British Museum.

Archeologists have established that the natives of Ur were, for the most part, worshipers of the moon god. Seemingly Abraham was one of the few, perhaps almost the only one, who worshiped the true God, the Creator of heaven and earth. He doubtless had knowledge of creation and of the world before the Flood. For example, Shem, who was saved in the ark, lived contemporaneously with Abraham for a time.

Abraham’s faith was put to the test when God said to him, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: … and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”—ch. 12:1-3

Abraham’s faith stood the test. Hebrews 11:8 reads, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Apparently the Lord did not give Abraham any advance information as to just where the Promised Land was located.

Abraham’s faith was also tested in another way. He was promised a seed, yet his wife, Sarah, was barren. Later he had faith sufficient to believe that if it were necessary God would raise his son Isaac from the dead. (Heb. 11:19) Evidently from the beginning he believed that God could perform a miracle and cause Sarah to bear him a seed.

In leaving Ur, Abraham did not immediately enter into Canaan, but sojourned at Haran until the death of his father, Terah. His nephew, Lot, went with him when they journeyed from Haran to Canaan, and of course, their families and their flocks. (ch. 12:4,5) Some years passed from the time the promise of a seed was first made to Abraham, and Sarah remained childless.

Then the Lord spoke to him, saying, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (ch. 15:1) In view of the circumstances, this seemed a little strange to him, and he replied, “Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless?” It seemed to him that the one great blessing he desired from the Lord was being withheld.

Then Abraham explained that he had made the steward of his house, “Eliezer of Damascus,” his heir. But the Lord explained to Abraham, “This shall not be thine heir: but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.”—ch. 15:3,4

Thus Abraham’s faith was tested still further. It was after this, and at the suggestion of Sarah, that he became the father of Ishmael by his bondmaid, Hagar. God had said that the promised seed must come from his own “bowels” so he supposed this arrangement would surely be satisfactory.

But the Lord appeared unto Abraham again, as recorded in Genesis, chapter 17, verses 15 and 16, and assured Abraham that Sarah would bear him a son. He must not only be the father of the seed, but Sarah must be the mother. “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” (vs. 17) This was a severe test of Abraham’s faith, but in due time God fulfilled his promise.

Paul tells us that the promise to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth through him and his seed was a pre-statement of the Gospel. (Gal. 3:8) Paul also explains that Christ is that promised seed, and that those who are baptized into Christ are also a part of the seed. (Gal. 3:16,27-29) Paul’s reference is to the seed which was to be the channel of blessing to all nations.

But God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. In Romans 4:16-18 Paul reveals that there is a seed “which is of the law,” and also a “seed which is of the faith of Abraham.” In verse 17 Paul speaks of God who “quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Here is an indication that the complete fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham involves the resurrection of the dead. The faith seed are raised from the dead to be the channel of blessing to the world; and all nations will be raised from the dead and become the children of Abraham, and in this way receive the blessings promised.

QUESTIONS

What was the first real test of Abraham’s faith in the true God?

How was Abraham tested in connection with the promised seed?

How did Abraham endeavor to co-operate with the Lord in the fulfillment of the promise?

Who is the faith seed of Abraham, and when will he become the father of many nations?

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