What Can Abram Teach Us About Growing Our Faith?

Before he became the patriarchal Abraham that was world renowned and favored by God and man, he was just Abram. He was a man who was chosen by God and chose to obey the call of God. Before the age of 75, Abram was just like any other human until he chose to act on his faith and allow God to transform him into his image.

My favorite takeaways from Abram's story in the Bible are the ones that demonstrate how his faith evolved over time. Just because he was called at 75 to leave home and go to a place that the LORD God would show him did not mean that his faith was solidified. If there is anyone in the Bible who can teach us about faith, it's Abram/ Abraham. These are the key takeaways from chapter 15 on how Abram grows his faith as he carries God's promise.

1. When the LORD spoke to Abram in Gen 15:1 and told him that he would not be afraid and that he would be protected and his reward would be great, it is Abram's response that demonstrates humility and curiosity. He recognized the LORD as sovereign (supreme ruler). He recognizes that the LOR is blessing him while asking for clarity about the longevity of his blessings because he does not have a son who can inherit his wealth. This is a legitimate question. Abram needed confirmation and clarity from God about the promises he had given him. Have you respectfully asked the LORD about your promises, ensuring that you understand how they are to be carried from one generation to the next?
2. The clarity that God then provided in verse 4 indicated that Abram would specifically have a son of his own who would become his heir rather than the servant Abram assumed would be his heir. He then added that his descendants would become as numerous as the stars. This visual and revelation caused Abram to believe. He had faith even though he had yet seen the promises of God. Because he truly believed (faith), going beyond having the knowledge of his promises but to the level of believing in his heart that what God said was true, he was considered righteous by God. This righteousness put him in right standing with God
3. The God gave Abram another point of clarity to confirm his sovereignty- He said, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.” Abram was living in a foreign land at the time but God promised to give it to him, so Abram asked for clarity and confirmation about his future possession saying, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?” At this point Abram was instructed to bring a great offering to the LORD. When you are taking new territory, it requires a new level of obedient sacrifice. Because Abram obeyed and gave offerings that are symbolic of purification, eternal covenant, and peace, he received all of these things. What is your offering symbolic of?
4. As a result of Abram's offering, he was given further insight (prophecy) about how the possession would take place. He was told of the coming persecution and oppression during 400 years of slavery and then freedom to possess the land Abram was promised. This is covenant agreement that God himself made with Abram, a promise to have his descendants possess all the land of the promise. Abram was not in competition with others around him, he had a promise to hold on to and a possession to look forward to as his descendants grew in number.

As you reread the account of Abram and God's conversation in Genesis 15, consider the significance of the covenant God made with Abram. This video should provide significant explanation of the meaning of covenants.

Studying Abram's journey should aid you in developing your faith.

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STUDY GUIDE REMINDER!

Here is the STUDY GUIDE to go along with our series. Please access it HERE. It is a compilation of the material reviewed in each lesson. In general, I recommend reading the chapter for yourself and re-watching the live along with the study guide to get the most as you reflect. This is a template link and will update weekly by COB every Friday.