My fondest childhood memories are about journeys. We took trips to either Grandma's house every holiday season.
Thanksgiving or Christmas would find us loading the car to head for Colorado or Tennessee. The back seat would
be loaded with suitcases forming a level area to serve as a bed for my brother and me. We thought it was fantastic.
I didn't know until later that it substituted for a motel stop, and was based more on economics than on giving
us boys some fun!
I suspect that with the passing of years, some of the fondest memories for you will be your journeys of faith.
When Peter writes to the pilgrims in his first epistle (1 Pet. 1:1), he is addressing all of us who have embraced
the Lord Jesus in faith as our Savior. You are a pilgrim—a traveler. Your journey of faith has many models in both
the Old and New testaments. Though all are insightful, none is as helpful as the life of Abraham. This lesson studies
his life and his journey of faith.
I want to conclude our lessons on faith with Abraham for two reasons. First, Abraham, as the “father of faith,”
was given as a wonderful role model for the life of faith. Abraham was not perfect. He made some mistakes, but
his faith began the covenant relationship between God and mankind which Jesus has now made available to all of
us.
On a personal note, however, I want to conclude with the thought of Abraham because I have two models—two fathers
in faith. One is Abraham; the other is my dad. Perhaps you've noticed I've quoted my dad often in these lessons.
Actually, I've been quoting him my entire life, and at age fifty continue to be so very grateful for the way he
has modeled the life of faith for me.
Second, I thought we should end by talking about Abraham and the fantastic journey of faith he took because
that's what you and I are on—a fantastic faith journey!
Abraham: The Father of Faith
The Bible calls Abraham the “father of faith” (Rom. 4:11), and the father of those of us who believe. He is
the one to whom God made the promise, “You will be the father of many nations” (Gen. 17:4), and when Paul writes
to the Galatians, he makes the point that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ has become an offspring
of Abraham (Gal. 3:29). As persons of faith, you and I have become members of the household of Abraham (Rom. 4:13),
so promises spoken to Abraham's descendants are words that you and I can apply to our own lives of faith (Rom.
4:16; Gal. 3:16).
There are two sections of scripture to study as we examine the power of Abraham's faith life. First, the historical
narrative of his life began with the concluding genealogy in Genesis 11:27–32. Until God gave him the name Abraham,
he was known as Abram (Gen. 17:5), and later the biblical narrative of Abraham's life concludes in Genesis 25:11.
The second section of scriptures dealing with Abraham's life, though referring to historical events, states
a theological proposition. That section is found in Romans 4. Abraham is often referred to in the Gospels, and
Paul also uses his life to effectively teach the Galatians. However, the most definitive section presenting Abraham's
exemplary role in matters of faith occurs in Paul's Letter to the Romans.
The Journey of Faith
To follow Abraham's life is to trace a journey of faith that deserves to be seen as a model for every believer's
“journey of faith.” Read the following verses which list the major events that Abraham experienced on his journey
of faith. Write your own thoughts when some particular aspect of Abraham's journey speaks to your own circumstances.
How many parallel kinds of things do you see?
Abraham's Journey of Faith.
Abraham's 1,500-mile journey was fueled by faith. “And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith
he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, … for he waited for the city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8–10). [Spirit-Filled Life Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 1991), “Abraham's Journey of Faith,” 23.]
1. Abram leaves Haran for Canaan because of the Lord's word (Gen. 12:1–3).
The life of faith involves both (1) our response to a promise, and (2) our leaving of something behind. In Abram's
case, he was called to a land as yet unidentified. While he had no idea where his response of faith would finally
lead him, it was clear what he was leaving. The journey of faith is often like this. God makes clear only what
we are to leave—to discontinue—while the future remains unclear. This doesn't suggest an uncertain future for those
who walk by faith, it is merely unclear at times. Certainty is sustained by the Lord's presence and promise, even
when we can't see tomorrow.
Abram's obedience in leaving is based on God's clear word of instruction, “Get out of your country, from your
family” (Gen. 12:1). Though the Lord only promised to identify the land at some future point, His other promises
were quite clear. These same clear promises may be rightly applied in the life of everyone who believes as Abraham
did.
What six things did God promise to Abram? (Gen. 12:1–3)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
In your journey of faith, perhaps the Lord has been just as clear and unclear with you! You may believe with
certainty for the fulfillment of the promises given to Abraham in your own life if you are with certainty leaving
those things which the Lord has clearly addressed. Remember the old saying of the church, “There can be no cleaving
(unto the Lord) without leaving (the world).”
What is clear to you in your own journey?
What is yet unclear to you about your own journey?
What did Abram leave? (Gen. 12:1–3)
2. Abram leaves Canaan for Egypt because of a famine (Gen. 12:10).
Even though we believe God and follow His Word and way, we have no guarantee against famines! Our journey of
faith—like Abraham's—will pass through famines. Such “dry spells” sometimes come in lost jobs, sickness, and/or
other modes of suffering. Faith is not merely power to ward off evil. Faith is the God-given power to process reality.
Faith never denies reality but moves through it in confidence towards God's promise of victory. Indeed, First John
5:4 specifically announces that faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
When do you win?
The moment you believe!
The fight of faith is not concluded in victory when you get what you were believing for. No! You win the moment
you take a position of faith when you decide to put your trust in the Lord —in what He has said in the midst of
threatening circumstances.
Some suggest that Abram should not have left the land God had just identified as the land that would be given
unto him (Gen. 12:7–9). If this indeed were a failure in Abram's faith—if He failed to trust God in the face of
difficult circumstances—it is all the more precious to note how the Lord dealt with his shortcoming. Instead of
plaguing Abram for his lack of faith, God plagued the household of Pharaoh. While it does not appear that Abram
was in a position to choose to leave Egypt, God intervened in such a way that Abram was provided for and virtually
forced to return to the land which would become his.
Rejoice in this. Your journey of faith does not require you to be perfect. A believer is not someone who is
faultless. However, a believer is someone who is responsive to God when his faults are discovered. Abram returned
to the altar he had made when he first came to the land, and there he called again on the name of the Lord (Gen.
13:3–4).
1. Describe Abram's wealth when he left Egypt. (13:2)
2. Where did Abram go when he left Egypt? (13:3)
3. What did Abram do upon his return? (13:4)
Here is the lesson: If you fail to trust God in the face of threatening circumstances, return as quickly as
possible to the place where you first called upon Him, and renew your commitment.
Write out any lesson you have learned from a momentary failure in faith. Remember Peter's failure? How did the
Lord say He would pray for him? (Luke 22:32). Be sure to look up this verse, because this is exactly how the Lord
Jesus will pray for you! (Heb. 7:24–26). And it is exactly how you and I should be praying for any we know who
are experiencing difficulty on their faith journey!
3. Abram allows his nephew Lot to choose the better lands, and is blessed (Gen. 13).
This section reveals so much about the character of Abram! As a believer, he was not using human influence,
personal authority, or advantaged position to contend for the better lands. He did not use his position of paternal
authority to sway Lot. There was a total absence of manipulation on his part. Lot chose the watered land, the land
that appeared to resemble the garden of the Lord. His choice left Abram with the land of Canaan. It was a large
land but a land of deserts and mountains. Lot's land was hospitable. His choice of the best left Abram with land
that appeared to be less suitable for the making of the “great nation” God promised.
It is interesting, even funny, that Canaan, which would not have been chosen by anyone, was the very land God
wanted Abram to live in! Why? Because God intended miraculously to bless Abram, to cause prosperity to come within
the boundaries of a land where such blessing would not normally have been possible! Lot's choice left Abram exactly
where God wanted him: dependent upon God to fulfill His promises.
The lesson is simple: When the choices of others leave you at a disadvantage, your God has you exactly where
He wants you! In the very circumstance that appears to resemble a desert, He will fulfill all the promises He has
made. Sometimes our flesh wants to help God. It is not uncommon for sincere believers to make the mistake of
manipulating their circumstances, of trying to “help” God. Though sincere, these efforts usually “help”—they help
bring about the opposite results. It's a lesson that every man and woman of faith has to learn. For Abram,
the lesson was taught early, and the Lord would like for all of us to learn this lesson as early as possible in
our walk of faith in Him.
List any “desert places” in your own life which may have come about because of choices others have made. Then,
list the promises you believe you have heard from the Lord and His Word, promises which you now know can be fulfilled
in those “desert places.”
Desert Places God's Promises
4. Abram rescues Lot (Gen. 14:14–17).
Our study is about Abram, but it's worthwhile to size up Lot. His choice of the better land—self-centered in
spirit—bore its bitter fruit. It brought him into association with Sodom and Gomorrah. Also, when the kings of
the region went to war with one another, Lot became a victim of their struggle. Choosing the best in appearance
without consulting with God inevitably will result in some kind of difficulty requiring you to be rescued!
In contrast to Lot's self-centeredness, notice Abram's generous spirit. When word was brought to Abram of Lot's
captivity, he immediately gathered his servants and prepared to rescue his nephew. That he did so is yet another
glimpse into the character of this “father of faith.” The rescue was successful, and as a result of the victory,
two important incidents took place that teach every sojourner in faith.
First, Abram met with Melchizedek. Melchizedek was the king of Salem, and furthermore the Bible refers to him
as “the priest of God Most High” (Gen. 14:18). Abram displayed profound reverence toward Melchizedek, and offered
him a tithe of all that had been taken in battle. Elsewhere in scripture we are taught that Melchizedek is an antitype
of Jesus Christ (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 7:1–10). When the “father of faith” paid tithes to the king of Salem, we learn
that men and women of faith tithe of their spoils. We've discussed prosperity earlier, but make a note of this:
believing people are generous in tithes and offerings.
Second, not only are people of faith generous in tithes and offerings, they exhibit something else that is modeled
in Abram's attitude towards the king of evil Sodom. Abram refused to allow this corrupt king to be a blessing to
him. The king of Sodom wanted the persons taken in battle, offering the goods to Abram but wanting control of the
people. Abram refused to enter into partnership with this king. Why? “Lest you should say, I have made Abram rich.”
God had already made Abram a wealthy man, and he understood clearly that his resource was a result of his relationship
with the Most High.
The lesson: a person of faith will not permit an association that will tarnish the source of blessing.
In this incident, our journey of faith teaches (1) rescuing even the not-so-innocent, (2) manifesting a generosity
in tithes and offerings, and (3) maintaining a resistance to any partnership that would taint the source of our
blessings.
Who are the people in your life whom you know you would be willing to rescue? List them, and be sure to include
the ones who may not be “innocent”!
What is your personal “giving plan?” Evaluate your own generosity. If you struggle with the paying of tithes,
write down the major reason(s). Also, write any lesson you've learned in generosity from your own journey of faith.
My giving plan:
My lessons in generosity:
Last, have you made any agreements which have tainted the source of your blessing as a person of faith? List
them, and write out a corrective plan of action.
5. Abram's covenant-making sacrifice (Gen. 15).
When Abram complained that he had no heir, God promised that one born of his seed would be his heir. In this
remarkable section, Abram was directed to look at the stars. As he saw the innumerable stars, he heard the Lord
God say, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:6 is extraordinary, and became a foundation stone for Paul's
teaching on grace and faith in the New Testament. As Abram beheld the stars and heard God's promise, he believed
the Lord. At that moment, Abram's faith made it possible for the Lord to “account” to him righteousness. What kind
of faith was this? What does it mean to have the Lord account to you righteousness? It is having God—by His grace
and choice in love—to attribute to our record the full complement of His righteousness and promised justification.
As you read the text, you will note that Abram hears the promise and believes in the Lord. As you become a person
of faith, it will become increasingly important for you to recognize the distinction between believing in the
promise, and believing in the One who has made the promise. For Abram, it was the latter that was true.
And it was this faith that made it possible for the Lord God to account righteousness to him.
Kingdom Extra
Do you struggle with the notion that it is important to put your faith in the Promiser—the Lord Himself—as opposed
to only putting your faith in the promises? How I wish it were not necessary to even make the point, but it is!
Why? Because you and I live in a dysfunctional world. Words are separated from context, making it possible to create
new meanings for almost any word ever spoken. Words change in their meaning, sometimes drastically so. To make
it even more complicated, as we've repeatedly noted, we are prone to take precious promises for our own agendas.
That's why Abraham's experience in faith is so important. He heard a promise—he believed—in the Lord.
See it, friend. Never allow the promise to be separated from the One who has made the promise! If
you haven't memorized it, commit Second Corinthians 1:20 to memory: “For all the promises of God in him are
yes, and in him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” Listen to it again: The promises are yes and Amen—when?
When they are in Him.
Read of Abraham's experience in Genesis 15:1–21 to prepare for the following lesson.
Paul later described this moment of Abraham's life seen in Genesis 15. In doing so, he used the legal and business
concept of accounting. Hereby we see that God's “accounting” is a legal decision He made—and He is Judge of all.
In this decision, the Judge justifies us as believers, giving us a position of righteousness before His judgment
seat. Our faith in Him has moved Him to set aside our sins, giving us a position of sinlessness before Him. This
grand moment of faith is realized in our lives as we hear “the word of promise” concerning Jesus Christ; when we
choose to put our faith in Him. As we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Father God “accounts” us as justified—legally
sinless, fully acceptable!
For Abram, the “accounting” was sealed by a sacrifice of blood. Abram prepared and offered the sacrifice, and
then guarded the sacrifice through the night against the vultures. Sometime in that dark night, Abram experienced
what is called “the cutting of the covenant.” This term describes a ceremony which obligated two people to perform
an oath or a contract. The sacrifice was laid out so that room for passing was open through the midst of it. The
partners would walk through the sacrifice whose blood had been spilled, signifying that they were each obligated
to perform the promise made on penalty of death. Amazingly, in Abram's sacrifice, it was God who manifested Himself
as a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed through the sacrifice. Note: Abram does not pass through
the sacrifice: God alone obligated Himself to perform the promise which had been given. Abram's part was
to believe: God's part was to perform—to bring the promise to pass.
For us, the sacrifice is Jesus Christ. His blood has been spilled. And as was true for Abram, God alone has
passed through the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus. Our part is to believe. God's part is to perform all His
good promises to us which He has made in the person of Jesus Christ.
When we believe as Abram did, we are justified by the blood of the sacrifice, Jesus Christ. You have been accounted
as “a righteous one”—without any sins, spotless before the Judge of all eternity! And it is not because we have
believed God for “things,” but rather that in all things we have believed God!
Abram had to drive off the vultures, and similarly Jesus told the parable of the seed which portrayed the “fowls
of the air” interfering with God-intended fruitfulness (Mark 4:4, 15). Write one example of how you have had to
deal with the “vultures,” the “fowls” that have attempted to interfere with the purpose of the One who has promised
to save you:
6. Abram sires Ishmael by Hagar, Sarah's maid (Gen. 16).
Read Genesis 16, a story which presents Abraham's attempt to bring God's promise to pass without the Promiser!
It was at Sarah's suggestion that Abram took Hagar as his concubine in order to have a son to whom could be given
the inheritance. Sarah was barren. In that ancient time, barrenness was understood to be a curse. Her suggestion
would have been totally acceptable in their culture, for her proposal was a common answer. But though understandable
and acceptable within that culture, it is not acceptable for Abraham as a person called to faith in God. God's
promises cannot be brought to pass through human strength or ingenuity. It is the Promiser whose miraculous strength
is required to bring to pass the promises He has made.
Study this episode, paying special attention to the anguish that both Sarah and Hagar experienced. Note that
God did turn His back on the results of this deed born of unbelief. But He revealed Himself to Hagar as the God
who sees all, and He committed Himself to care for her and her child.
Most of us, though people of faith, have given birth to our own “Ishmaels”—to actions that beget problems when
we tried to help God provide answers. But the same loving God who revealed Himself to Abram, who did not abandon
the one to whom He had made such glorious promises, has not abandoned any of us, even though we may have attempted
to bring His promises to pass in the strength of our own wisdom or might.
The name Ishmael means “God will hear.” Even when we fail in a part of our faith journey, God will still
hear! He does not leave us to the results of our fleshly thinking or actions; but he intervenes so the promise
He has made can still come to pass in the manner He had intended!
What does the angel of the Lord ask Hagar? (Gen. 16:8)
What does angel of the Lord instruct Hagar to do? (Gen. 16:9)
What name does Hagar give to God? (Gen. 16:13)
7. Abram's name is changed to Abraham (Gen. 17).
Abram's name is changed to Abraham. Abram meant “high father,” but Abraham means “father of many nations.” At
this moment, God institutes a sign of the covenant agreement.
Write out the covenant God made with Abraham. (Gen. 17:7)
What was the sign of the covenant?
What was the penalty if this sign of the covenant were not performed? (Gen. 17:14)
It is important to note that although Abraham offered many sacrifices during his journey of faith, there was only
one sacrifice which was accounted to him for righteousness (Gen. 15). Remember that: many sacrifices involved worship
and faith but only one served as the moment of saving faith. Though the lack of circumcision would cause the non-participant
to be disenfranchised from the covenant, circumcision itself was not the moment of saving faith. It was the sign
of the covenant, not the covenant itself.
Kingdom Extra
In the New Testament, the Pharisees placed great value on outward holiness. During Paul's missionary journeys
this same philosophy was promulgated by the Judaizers. In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he lists the signs
of the new covenant. This new covenant is established in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Only one sacrifice
is necessary to ensure your covenant with God. While the sign of Abraham's covenant was a physical surgery—a permanent
mark on his body—your and my sign as people of the covenant is no less permanent. However, instead of being a mark
on our bodies, we are marked by how we live before God and man.
What are the signs of the new covenant? (Phil. 3:1–3)
8. Abraham is promised a son through Sarah (Gen. 18:1–15).
In Genesis 18, the incident of Abraham's name change is recorded, along with an appearance of the Lord, accompanied
by two angels. They are on their way to judge Sodom and Gomorrah when they stop to visit Abraham. As Abraham serves
them with the traditional washing of the feet and the offering of food from his provisions, the Lord speaks to
him.
What did Abraham do when he met the angels? (Gen. 18:3)
What was the response of Sarah when she overheard the conversation between Abraham and the angels? (Gen. 18:12)
What was Abraham's response? (Gen. 17:17)
How did God admonish Sarah? (Gen. 18:14)
How old were Abraham and Sarah at that time? (Gen. 17:17)
How old was Abraham when Ishmael was born? (Gen. 16:16)
Faith Alive
One of the great lessons to be learned from Abraham's journey of faith has to do with time. You and I live in
a culture in which time has the appearance of being compressed. Most things can be done quickly, if not immediately.
Faxes, computers, and microwaves all make for immediacy. However, faith does not operate in such an atmosphere
of immediacy or convenience. At that point in Abraham's journey, God had promised him a son many years before.
It may be that Abraham's laugh had less to do with unbelief, and more to do with the failure to understand God's
promises in light of how God moves in time.
This is especially true for people whose concept of time and space has become distorted through technology.
Faith can have immediate results. And sometimes, faith can even have convenient results! The mistake is to assume
that in the passing of time, the promise has been set aside or that God has decided to permit His promise to be
fulfilled through an Ishmael, through the results of human provision, rather than through His own miraculous power
and timing. Write out the promises you know you have received from God's Word and God's Spirit, and which require
your patience in faith.
9. Abraham's Call to Sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22)
Finally, Abraham faced the supreme call to faith: to lay everything God had given him on the altar. To surrender
even the fulfilled promise, and to trust the Promiser above all.
Read Genesis 22. Answer these questions.
1. How did God word His command to Abraham? (v. 2)
2. What time lapse intervened before Abraham responded? (v. 3)
3. What evidence did Abraham's words give that he believed God would intervene? (v. 5)
4. When questioned by Isaac, who sensed the unusual situation, what did Abraham answer? (vv. 6–8)
5. How far did Abraham proceed in his action of obedience? (vv. 9–10)
6. What did God say, do, and direct? (vv. 11–13)
7. Why did God say He was intervening? (v. 12)
Now, go back over each point and draw an applied lesson to your own life.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
This encounter was the essential climax of Abraham's life-long journey of faith. God's highest purposes are
not to make us wealthy (though He did that with Abraham), to make us well (though He “healed” Abraham's body and
enabled Isaac's birth), or to fulfill His promise to us (though He did give Abraham and Sarah their promised son,
Isaac). His goal is to bring us to the place where we will trust Him on all terms, in every situation, and walk
with Him—above and beyond all.
And this, fellow pilgrim, is the final truth that all of faith's lessons are intended to engrave upon our souls.
Write a prayer that this lesson will sink into your own soul and abide with you forever.
A Last Word
We've finished our faith lessons. Or have we? Isn't it true that our journey of faith will not really be complete
until we stand before our Father? I will rejoice if any exercise in this study guide on faith, or any words you
have read from me or from those I have quoted, will help you on your personal faith journey.
Ultimately, when we stand before God, our faith is what will bring Him honor and glory. “That the genuineness
of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found
to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:7).
And our faith will be … tried with fire! The word picture in the Greek text is that of a goldsmith who repeatedly
heats the ore, drawing off the “dross” (impurities, slag, waste) as it comes to the surface of the melted metal.
When does the goldsmith know he is finished? We are told that in ancient times, the refiner knew he was finished
with the purifying process only when he could clearly see his own reflection in the gold.
And in the same manner, our loving Lord Jesus will faithfully be our companion through every fiery trial. As
we submit to life's dealings in His presence, as we confess our impurities that surface because of the heat of
circumstances, He will lovingly remove all the “dross” from our lives. However far along in that process each of
us moves, on one glorious day we will stand before Him. And as the last of the impurities will have been removed,
we will see His image perfected: “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
And so, my brother and sister, let us grow in faith and thereby grow in Christ: “May our faith, tested by fire,
be found unto Him in all praise and honor and glory!” Amen.
He is able to keep you from falling,
And to present you before His glorious throne.
I shall appear without fault and with joy.
For He is able,
Yes, Jesus is able,
To keep me from falling—He is able.
— Roy Hicks, Jr.
(a song lyric drawn from Jude 24)
From Power Faith: Balancing Faith in Words and Works by Roy Hicks, JR. with Jack W. Hayford. Copyright 1994 by Jack W. Hayford.
