Here are a few things I’ve been surprised to learn about Abraham: For one thing, he wasn’t perfect. For example, he asked his wife to lie to the Egyptians and Pharaoh about not being his wife (out of fear of being killed). Much later, but less than three months after God had promised that Sarah would bear him a son, he gave his wife to Abimelech—a Philistine king! He fled to Egypt during the drought right after being told his descendants would be given the land. Then there is the episode where he allowed Sarai to take charge of the family planning. So faith does not mean perfection (thank goodness).

He Believed God
But he believed God strongly. It’s amazing to me how he obeyed God’s voice without hesitation. Early on, the Lord said to him, “Go to the land I will show you.” Abraham’s response? He got up and left, immediately. I would have been asking for a travel itinerary with a detailed agenda for each day.

When God tested Abraham with the command to offer Isaac as a burnt offering, he rose early in the morning (without question) and went to the place of sacrifice. Then he trusted God to provide the lamb for the burnt offering (while he stretched out his hand to slay his son). This was THE heir he and Sarah had been waiting for forever!

Waiting
Then there is—the waiting. There is waiting and living in the tension of seeing promises come true all through the story. When he died, he still had not seen his descendants truly occupy the land.

Faith Amnesia
Sometimes I get “faith amnesia” and forget God’s presence and take matters into my own hands when I don’t see the progress I want. My prayer is that I would grow in learning to “stay” at that edge of growth where the tension is—trusting God is present and leading me. Leading me to a “place He will show me.”

Kevin Virden