Faith and obedience are the bedrock of pleasing God.  The scripture says; “For without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).  Abraham is an example of how to please God.

In Genesis chapter 14, following the liberation of Lot from the league of armies who had conquered Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram received a blessing from Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the most high God.  He also refused the spoils of battle offered by the king of Sodom.  Then beginning in chapter 15 Abram had a vision.

In that vision God instructed Abram to be unafraid for He was his shield and exceeding great reward.  Abram then asks; “what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless” reasoning that the only heir he had was Eliezer the steward of his house. He goes on to say “Behold to me thou hast given no seed” (vs 3).  This response by Abram was understandable in the context of chapter 12 where God promised Abram “I will make of thee a great nation”. In response the Lord assured Abram that his heir would be “he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels” and that his seed would be as the innumerable stars of heaven.  This was a remarkable promise to an older man without a single child of his own.  Yet the scripture records that Abram “believed (first time this word used in the scripture) in the Lord; and He counted it unto him for righteousness” (vs 6).

Approximately twenty five years after this promise to Abram and through many toils and trials Abraham and Sarah were given the heir of promise.  His name was Isaac (Gen 21:1-3).  Abraham had believed God and remained faithful.  God was faithful to His promise.

One can only imagine the joy that Isaac brought to the hearts of his parents.  A son had been given to them in old age.  As the child grew and had reached the approximate age of 16 to 20 years old Abraham received another request from God.  The scripture describes the request as temptation because Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son of promise.  In Genesis 22:1-3 we are told that “God did tempt Abraham and said unto him, Abraham: and he said here I am” (vs 1). Then God said “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering….” (vs 2).

Most people would have resisted this request, however not Abraham.  The scripture simply says that “Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son….(vs3).  Oh the obedient faith of this man! Hebrews chapter 11 describes it this way; “By faith, Abraham when he was tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son” (vs 17). But this was not an unusual response of Abraham to the command of God, for from the very beginning of his experience when he was called to go, he went and he sojourned (Heb. 11:8-9).

There is another hint of the faith of Abraham in the Genesis account.  In verse five of chapter 22, after 3 days travel to the mountain  of sacrifice, the scripture quotes Abraham as telling the young men in his party, “Abide here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship and COME AGAIN to you”( vs 5).    Abraham viewed his obedience and sacrifice of his son as worship but yet had faith that God was going to either provide an alternative sacrifice or raise his sacrificed son from the dead.  We know that a ram was provided.

Throughout his life the faith of Abraham was never merely mental assent or casual in nature.  To the best of his ability he fully trusted God and obeyed him to the letter.  He demonstrated his faith by his works.  He trusted God and God never let him down.  James 2:21-24 instructs us in this way: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon an altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and NOT BY FAITH ONLY”.  It is works that make our faith complete. Faith is not a passive and inactive exercise.

Jesus emphasized this fact when he said “why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say? (Luke 6:46).  To please God we must live a faithful and obedient life.  Abraham leaves us a great example.

 

How God Saves – Keep the Faith