The Bible doesn’t introduce us to Abraham until he is 75 years old and doesn’t mention much about his early life. We know his father was named Terah and Terah was born nine generations after Noah through the line of Noah’s son Shem (Genesis 11:10-26). Terah was a wealthy herdsman and had many flocks to take care of and probably managed a large number of servants to handle such an operation. Abraham’s name was originally Abram and didn’t become Abraham until God changed it. Abram means Exalted Father or High Father; Abraham means Father of Many. Ironically, despite the meaning of his name, Abram was childless for his entire normal childbearing years. God gave him a mission and a promise that he would bear a son and that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-6). We know Abraham lived under his father’s leadership with his family clan in Ur of the Chaldeans which was an important city in southern Mesopotamia about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad in lower Mesopotamia. That area was known for idol worship (Joshua 24:2) and there is no indication that Abram worshipped the Lord or had any contact with him prior to the Lord’s instructions recorded in Genesis 12:1-3. Abram responded in faith and learned the way of the Lord along his journey of faith until he believed God’s stunning promise that he would have a biological son in his old age and his posterity would be as measureless as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). When Abram believed the Lord, the Lord credited to him as righteousness. That forms the basis of the doctrine of justification by faith (Romans 4:1-25). We will explore some highs and lows of Abraham’s life and times.
Abraham’s Journey of Faith
The Abrahamic Covenant contains a foundational element in God’s redemption plan. God made a promise to Abraham that affects all people of all time. We will examine the details regarding the past, present, and future aspects of this important covenant. As the story unfolds, we will clearly see the gracious aspect of faith; the firm foundation to which the hope of believers is anchored; and the vast extent of God’s love.
The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
‘I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.‘I will bless those who bless you,
Genesis 12:1-3
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.’
This was the first contact between God and Abram. The year was roughly 2100 BC in Abram’s hometown, Ur of the Chaldeans, Mesopotamia (Iraq). The local culture was immersed in idolatry with no regard for the true and living God. There is no indication that Abram personally had any previous knowledge or relationship with God. Therefore, this covenant promise contains within it the concept of grace. That is, Abram did not do anything to earn this great reward. God simply chose Abram to receive this blessing because God had a plan to redeem all mankind. Abram was selected, by grace, to play a role in this plan. He was going to be the progenitor of an entirely new nation from which God’s chosen redeemer, Jesus Christ, would emerge.
This promise warrants a close inspection. “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” It was obvious that God wanted to separate Abram and his wife Sarai from everything to which they were presently connected. Abram’s country, relatives, and father all worshipped false gods. God hates idolatry.
“I will make you into a great nation.” The plan was to choose one man to respond by faith and move him away from that idolatry. The new, holy nation would bear witness to the true and living God. Abram understood what God intended, but struggled with the idea of leaving his present circumstances.
Abram was firmly seated in a family business with hundreds of servants counting on his leadership for their future. They were herdsman who raised cattle and sheep and were knit together as family clan. Abram’s father served as the patriarch who used his experience and knowledge to manage the family affairs. Four generations of families typically would live and work together, participating in duties appropriate to their age and ability. A clan such as this would purchase servants who would also live and work within the camp. The family clan would retain ownership of these servants generation after generation, with the children of the servants automatically belonging to the clan. When properly managed, this was a mutually beneficial arrangement for all involved. Abram’s father Terah was aging so Abram was prepared to take over the responsibilities as patriarch. The forfeiture of this honored position would have been a disappointment and disgrace.
We do not know the details of why Abram responded to God’s instructions the way he did, but we do know what happened. Abram’s brother Haran died unexpectedly and left a son and two daughters. Abram’s other brother Nahor married one of the daughters, his niece, Milcah. Nahor and Milcah prepared to stay in Mesopotamia to care for their own livestock. Abram’s father, Terah, set out to the land of Canaan with Abram, Sarai, and Haran’s son Lot. They traveled six hundred miles north to the city of Haran, Mesopotamia (Turkey) and settled there instead of continuing to Canaan. They stayed in Haran for a period and eventually Terah died. During their stay, they had accumulated more servants and possessions.
God’s initial instructions to Abram indicated that he intended to separate Abram and Sarai from their country, relatives, and family. God was preparing to start a new nation from Abram. Abram failed to comply, instead staying within his country, with his relatives, and under the leadership of his father. Abram’s father had chosen the route to Canaan. They followed the Euphrates River that provided the natural resources required for their livestock and servants. It is noteworthy that a direct route to Canaan was available to the west across the Arabian Desert. The desert route would have been feasible without the entourage. While God allowed this disobedience, it did not work out very well as Terah died before any fulfillment of the promise. For now, God was exercising patience with Abram, allowing freedom to make mistakes while learning the ways of the true and living God.
Abram was seventy-five when his father died. Sarah was 10 years younger than Abram and had been barren her whole life. Lot, Abram’s nephew who had recently lost his father, remained with the group Terah had assembled. If Abram had remained childless, Lot would have been the heir apparent.
The group traveled to Canaan and arrived at the great tree of Moreh at Shechem (30 miles north of Jerusalem). This was the first real sign of obedience as Abram left his country and walked by faith into a foreign land. Even though the Canaanites occupied that place as their own, the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” This revealed an exciting revelation not previously disclosed. God indicated that they would have a son to be an heir to this land. In response to that great revelation from God, Abram built an altar to the Lord and worshipped him there.
So we see the first of many fluctuations of Abram’s journey of faith. The spike came initially when God chose Abraham by grace and made a great promise to him. Next we see a steep drop-off by Abram’s disobedient response and the death of his father before any significant progress is made towards the fulfillment of the promise. Finally, we see a restoration of fellowship as Abram responded by faith and God expanded the revelation. The growth of this relationship is evident as Abram built an altar for worship. This is the first time of worship recorded between this man of faith and his God. This was a time of great joy for Abram and Sarai, even though they did not understand how God’s promise of a son would be fulfilled.
Failure Under Pressure
The best parts of the land were occupied. Abram’s group was large, and the herds required a constant supply of food and water. After grazing in an area for a period, they had to change locations.
From Shechem, they headed on to Bethel (10 miles north of Jerusalem) and built another altar and called on the name of the Lord. This would be an indication of sustained fellowship and communion with God. However, from this time of communion with the Lord came a time of divine trial and testing. God’s testing is never for his own benefit as he is omniscient and already knows the hearts of men. The testing he puts people through is so we can learn about ourselves. Abram was about to learn an important lesson, the hard way.
The herds required new grazing plains again. To increase the difficulty of the trial, God had caused a famine in the land. Resources were thin and the locals were protecting their territories closely. The entire region was in survival mode.
The famine provided an opportunity for Abram to confidently seek God’s provision in the land. God surely would have kept his promise. “I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.” This was the land God had shown him, and Abram had a blanket promise that he would be blessed. There were options available to Abram, but his old ways were influencing him. He failed to leave them behind in Mesopotamia too.
After a period, they moved on to the south towards the Negev, a dry desert area near Egypt. Obviously, they would not survive long in that region. Abram was making administrative and executive decisions for those traveling with him, as he was now the patriarch. Abram had been groomed by his father for this role and carefully considered all his options. On one hand, he had God’s promise. It was because of his faith in God’s promise that they found themselves in Canaan in the first place. On the other hand, he had conventional wisdom as he had seen his father use successfully for many years. The situation forced his hand. He made his decision based on a strategy he had in mind since they day he left home.
Abram led the group out of the land God showed them and headed to Egypt. The plan was to offer Sarai to Pharaoh as a wife for his harem. This plan required lies, deception and greed. Though Abram and Sarai were married, they shared the same father, which meant they were half siblings. Abram planned to manipulate the facts so as to present her as his sister while omitting the fact that she was also his wife. By doing so, Sarai would be well cared for, and Abram would receive gifts and honor for her sake. Additionally, the rest of the group would survive the famine, living under Abram’s leadership while in Egypt.
Sarai had been preparing for this deception for quite some time. Abram announced this strategy back when they first set out for Canaan. He coldly convinced her that participation in this lie would be her way of showing love for him. Her compliance resulted in exactly the outcome he had so cleverly anticipated. Sarai lived in the palace; Abram received additional livestock as a bride price; the members of the group were free to work under Abram’s leadership, tending his livestock. Their overall status increased greatly instead of sinking dramatically. Abram had used selfish human reasoning and had set aside God’s plan and God’s ways. The result of this testing revealed the utter sinfulness of the human nature. The end did not justify the means.
This phase of testing for Abram was complete, so the Lord inflicted serious disease on Pharaoh and his household on behalf of Sarai, Abram’s wife. As a result of that divine intervention, Pharaoh discovered the truth and rebuked Abram. Abram was humbled and led the group back to Bethel, the last place he had previously built an altar, and again called on the name of the Lord and worshipped him there. The communion between God and Abram was restored.
This was the second cycle of peaks and valleys on Abram’s journey of faith. Abram began from a place of holy communion with God and sank to the depths of his own sinful nature. He traded his wife for his own well-being even after God had promised to provide an heir to them. Perhaps he had previously reasoned that since Sarai had been barren, she would not be the woman to provide the promised son. He had considered her expendable, but God recovered his discarded wife and protected the sanctity of their marriage. Abram put his entire group at risk by seeking refuge in another country instead of trusting God to provide their needs in the land he showed them. In the end, Abram grew in his knowledge of God and his ways. This was a valuable lesson and it paid dividends immediately. The old Abram was focused on self-sufficiency; the new Abram would focus on the hope of God’s promises.
Hope is the Key
The growth of Abram’s character became evident with the next test Abram faced. The natural resources in Bethel were too limited for their needs. Tension was high and the increased stress led to quarreling between Lot and Abram’s herdsmen. Instead of solving this dispute in a traditional way, Abram exercised hope in God’s promise and was finally comfortable implementing God’s ways. He took this opportunity to generously release Lot and his share of livestock and servants.
This was not an easy decision for Abram. Lot was Abram’s nephew and the natural affection and camaraderie was strong. More than that, Lot had become a fellow believer in the Lord. The comfort of a trusted ally was desirable, especially in this foreign land. The increased manpower and wealth also would have been beneficial in negotiating conflicts. Lastly, Lot had been Abram’s potential heir. This separation would mark the end of that option. Abram had become confident in God’s Word that he would receive an heir from his own seed. This was a bold and emotionally charged move for Abram. He displayed unselfishness and trust in God’s plan. This was as momentous an event as the day he left Haran!
Abram graciously offered Lot the opportunity to choose an area where he would like to settle. Abram offered to go a different direction and settle in another place. On one hand, this would relieve the tension between the herdsmen. More importantly, it would provide an opportunity for Abram to separate himself from his family as God had initially instructed. Lot took the well-watered plain of the Jordan and headed east, near Sodom. Abram went to great trees of Mamre near Hebron, roughly twenty miles south of Salem (Jerusalem). At this point, he met the terms of God’s initial instructions. Finally Abram was in the land of Canaan, and he was apart from both generations that originally accompanied him on the journey. It may have been a roundabout way of getting to this point, but it was a move in the right direction as indicated by the next communication from God. God waited until Lot had departed and spoke to Abram saying, “Look around from where you are, to the north and to the sound, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” (Genesis 13:14-17).
The first test was disastrous as Abram fled to Egypt. This latest test was momentous as he demonstrated unselfishness and respect for God’s plan and instructions. God was pleased with Abram and revealed another new and exciting aspect to his plan. Abram would have more than just an heir–his offspring would be too numerous to count and would retain this land forever! Abram’s relationship with God was growing stronger. God even used Abram’s trials to work together for a good result. Abram was growing to love the Lord and trust his ways.
Victorious Under Pressure
After a period, Abram received word that Lot had been taken captive by King Kedorlaomer from Mesopotamia. Four eastern kings were executing joint attacks against several regional cities including Sodom. Cities in this ancient region were walled fortresses and maintained national independence from other city-nations. Abram had made a covenant with an Amorite named Mamre and his two brothers. Given the amicable arrangement with these neighbors, he had stationed his camp near Hebron. Abram had 318 men born into his household who were trained for battle. He and his covenanted neighbors immediately pursued Kedorlaomer all the way past Damascus (Syria), approximately 200 miles north of Hebron. Under Abram’s leadership, they routed the opposition. They recovered the hostages, possessions and livestock. As they headed back to Sodom, it was like an extended victory parade.
These eastern kings had subjugated several cities in this region fourteen years prior. They had been receiving a steady stream of income until about a year ago when these cities rebelled against the vassal arraignment. The eastern kings were there to collect – with a vengeance. God had promised to make Abram famous. This impressive victory was news that would spread throughout the ancient world. Abram was now a force to be reckoned with among the nations. Of course, the Lord provided the victory in accordance with his promise, working through Abram and his allies.
Sodom, a city famous for homosexuality and other perverted wickedness, had been entirely and completely looted. The King of Sodom was preparing to meet Abram as he was returning with everything. Before that meeting, Melchizedek, King of Salem, arrived with bread and wine.
He [Melchizedek] was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 14:19-20
Abram was refreshed, enlightened and encouraged by the presence of Melchizedek. He accepted the blessing, offered a tithe of all the loot, and promptly told Bera, King of Sodom that he would not accept anything from him as payment. The diametrical character of these two Kings could not have been greater. Abram masterfully communicated that truth to the residents of Sodom who were in tow, including Lot. Abram was careful to credit God with the victory, as well as his rise to fame and wealth.
Greater Revelation
After some time, Abram began to doubt that he would see the complete fulfillment of God’s promise. Abram had good reason to doubt. The fulfillment of these promises would take more time and power than Abram could imagine.
God comforted Abram by stating that he would be his shield and very great reward. Finally, Abram openly shared what was on his mind. He reasoned that since God had not provided a son, a servant from his household would be awarded the estate.
God restated that Abram would have a son of his own flesh and blood. God reiterated that Abram’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abram believed God, and it was credited it to him as righteousness.
Next, God stated, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” Despite this decisive statement, Abram still struggled with understanding how that would be possible. Abram was probably under the impression that all this would happen within his lifetime. We were just assured that Abram believed God. We also know that Abram’s faith was unwavering. However, he did not understand how or when these great accomplishments would come to pass. The possession of the land was a major obstacle Abram was anticipating. God took this opportunity to expand the revelation and reassure Abram. God had Abram prepare for a ritual covenant. Various livestock would be cut in two, and the pledging partners would walk between the carcasses. The symbolism meant that if one of the pledging partners reneged on their part of the promise, the same fate of the animals would befall that participant. Abram understood the significance of this ritual thoroughly. It was as an oath of the highest caliber in their culture.
Next the Lord put Abram into a deep sleep. God revealed that Abram’s descendants would serve as slaves in a foreign country for four hundred years before returning to inherit the land. Then God passed through the slaughtered animals alone. This last action signified that the fulfillment of the promise rested completely on God since Abram did not pass through the animals, as was the normal practice. God alone passed through, and God alone would be responsible for the fulfillment of the covenant.
That ritual confirmed one of the most important doctrines in the entire Bible. God’s plan will be accomplished because God is Sovereign and Omnipotent. The fact that he chooses to work through men, angels, nature, or time is inconsequential. In other words, the accomplishment of God’s plan depends on God, not on man–nor anything else. Abram now understood that the plan regarding the possession of the land would take many generations to be fulfilled. He learned that it involved slavery for his descendants prior to their inheritance. He knew it would be accomplished because God would see it through, according to the promise. We can be sure that Abram spent much time dwelling on the significance of this great revelation of God.
[Jesus speaking to a first century audience of Abram’s descendants] Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.
John 8:56
The climax of God’s promise was “all families on earth would be blessed through you.” At some point, Abram began to understand completely. In this last clause of the promise, God was referring to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Here’s how it would be accomplished: Abram was chosen by grace and called out of Mesopotamia. He would be given a new land and his offspring would be made into a holy nation. Eventually, Christ would be born to this nation, all of whom were descendants of Abram. Christ would offer himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the entire world. Consequently, the sin of the world would be forgiven. Therefore, every family on earth would be blessed because their sin would not be an obstacle to salvation. Just as Abram believed God and was credited with righteousness, so also all people who believe in God’s redemption plan would receive righteousness. Until Christ arrived, people were expected to believe up to the point of revelation they received. Now that Christ has died and rose again, we must believe in the sufficiency of Christ’s death.
The writer of Hebrews explains God’s purpose in passing through the slaughtered animals thereby confirming the promise with an oath:
“When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.’ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
“People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:13-20
When he says, “we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us” he means all people who believe God, just as Abram did. The believer’s hope is in God’s redemption plan; God’s ability to accomplish his plan; and Jesus Christ, the one in whom the plan is embodied. Jesus has anchored our hope to the inner sanctuary of the true tabernacle of God in heaven. There is no better foundation in all of heaven and earth!
The reference to Melchizedek in the New Testament book of Hebrews is as significant as the oath God had made. Christ, in his ascension, has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. The point of this statement is that Christ’s tenure as high priest will never end. He continues to bless all the families on earth even after he accomplished the forgiveness of their sin. He serves in the true tabernacle of God, in heaven. From this holy place, he oversees a royal priesthood of believers on earth to whom he sent the Holy Spirit. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, he gives each believer any number of spiritual gifts by which they are equipped to serve mankind, just as Melchizedek had done for Abram.
The Apostle Paul connects Abram’s faith and righteousness to that of all believers. “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness.’ The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:18-25).
Faith is believing in God’s plan of redemption and is based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Hope is fixing our eyes upon Jesus who rose from the dead and ascended to serve as our high priest forever. Love is serving others as Christ has done for us–yesterday, today, and forever!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13).
Patience
Ten years had passed from the time Abram first arrived in Canaan. He still had no son. Sarai suggested that Abram sleep with her servant, a cultural alternative to traditional family building. Abram agreed and Hagar conceived. There was tension between Sarai and Hagar but the Lord intervened, and Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son. Abram was eighty-six when Ishmael was born.
Thirteen years later, God appeared to Abram. God restated the covenant and renamed Abram and Sarai to describe their future status. He gave instructions to Abraham regarding the covenant of circumcision. Then God explained that Sarah would miraculously bear a son by this time next year. His name would be Isaac and God’s covenant promise would be fulfilled through Isaac, not Ishmael. Abraham had planned for Ishmael to be the heir for the last thirteen years. He pleaded with God that Ishmael, his firstborn son, be the heir of the land. God clearly denied that request, but stated that Ishmael would be a ruler of a nation with twelve rulers serving under him. However, Isaac would be born to Sarah and the covenant promises would be fulfilled through Isaac’s line. Abraham obeyed God’s instructions and had all the males circumcised that very day.
Isaac was indeed born to Abraham and Sarah as promised. In time, Ishmael was observed mocking the child and Sarah became enraged. She stated to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” Hagar and her son Ishmael, now an older teenager, were sent off to the desert. In time, Hagar found an Egyptian wife for her son, and he became ruler and had twelve sons. The Ishmaelite’s were nomads who inhabited various areas across the Arabian Peninsula. Muslims record Muhammad as a descendant of Ishmael. Islam has become an impressive global religion based on the law established through Muhammad.
Islam, Judaism and other major religions have a conceptual tenet in common–obedience of a law by which everyone will be judged. The common principle that aligns these religions together is the premise that the better the law is kept by the individual; the better things will be in the next life. This premise makes its followers slaves to their law. Christianity is an exception to the others. We believe, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, … in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles [believers of any ethnicity] through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:13-14).
Christians identify themselves with Christ who has fulfilled God’s law already. He not only followed it perfectly, but he incurred the penalty of God’s law, death. He died on behalf of those are incapable of keeping God’s law perfectly. When Christ died, the temple curtain was torn, top to bottom. That miraculous event signified the way to God was now open to all–apart from law. Therefore, believers are credited with the righteousness of Christ, by grace, through faith.
Law and grace are opposed. Law puts the emphasis on the individual and means you will get what you deserve. It should be noted that it is not possible to keep God’s law perfectly; it is an exercise in futility for all sons of Adam. Its purpose was to point to Christ, the Righteous One. Law ends in death; it is the ministry of death. Its ultimate goal was to teach us that mankind has no hope apart from faith in God’s redemption plan, the gospel. The gospel teaches us that the sin of mankind was imputed to Christ who died as a substitutionary sacrifice, which was acceptable to God. Subsequently, the Righteousness of Christ is imputed to those who believe. It is based on faith, not works; Christians believe in the redemption God provided through Christ, not works performed by self. In other words, Christians believe in grace, not law.
Grace puts the emphasis on the love and mercy of God. It means you will get something you do not deserve, and have not earned. Righteousness is obtained by faith in the work of another, Jesus Christ. It is the ministry of the Spirit and brings life (2 Corinthians 3:7-18). Grace is opposed to law. The Apostle Paul used the opposition of Sarah and Hagar to illustrate.
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: ‘Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child, shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor, because more are the children of the desolate woman [Sarah] than of her who has a husband [Hagar].’
Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does Scripture say? ‘Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’ Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised [signifying that you intend to be under law], Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 4:21-5:6
Faithful Obedience
Abraham sent Ishmael away and prepared to see the fulfillment through his promised son, Isaac. God had a final test in mind for Abraham. Many years later when Isaac was about fifteen, God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son. Abraham responded promptly and prepared to perform the sacrifice. Just as he was ready to kill Isaac, God stopped him and provided a substitutionary animal sacrifice. It was at that point that God promised to fulfill the covenant because of Abraham’s obedience. James, a New Testament writer, used this example of obedience to link justification by faith with works that validate faith.
Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
James 2:20-24
God’s judgments are true and just. If God declares a person is justified, there is no changing that verdict. However, God does more than just work in dimensions that rise above human comprehension. He demonstrates things to mankind on a level that we can plainly grasp. Since humans can only perceive if a person has faith by what we see, believers are enabled to perform good deeds. These deeds validate God’s justification in the eyes of men. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his promised son is a good example. Approximately thirty years prior to this event, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. God knew Abraham’s heart; he knows all things past, present, and future. Man does not have access to that divine omniscience. We can only make conclusions by what he did. It is clear that Abraham did believe God. He must have concluded that God would fulfill his promise even if Isaac died. The only thing Abraham could have imagined is that God would resurrect him from the dead (cf. Hebrews 11:17-18). We know Abraham believed because his actions demonstrated his belief to us. When it comes to salvation, obedience is the fruit, not the root; the end, not the means; the effect, not the cause.
Abraham’s Timeline
Paul spoke of Abraham as being justified by faith (Romans 4:1-25). James spoke of Abraham as being justified by works, not by faith alone (James 2:14-24). These passages are often compared out of context as if only one could be correct. A review of the life of Abraham may be helpful to see how both are correct in their respective contexts.
Approximately 2100 BC:
Age = 75, Abraham leaves Haran (Genesis 12:4).
Age > 75 Abraham parts with Lot (Genesis 13:8-9).
Age > 75 Abraham justified by faith (Genesis 15:6; cf. Romans 4).
Age = 86 Ishmael is born (Genesis 16:16).
Age = 99 Sign of circumcision instituted (Genesis 17:24).
Age = 100 Isaac is born (Genesis 21:5).
Age > 100 Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19; cf. James 2:20-24).
Age = 137 Sarah dies (Genesis 23:1-2).
Age = 175 Abraham dies (Genesis 25:7-8).
We know that Isaac was a young man when Abraham received instructions to sacrifice him. Referring to the timeline, we can estimate that more than thirty years would have passed from the time that Abraham was justified by faith until he demonstrated his faith through his actions. In other words, Paul was referring to an event that happened thirty-plus years before the event that James was referencing. That observation helps clarify much confusion on the subject.
It may be concluded that justification from God comes by faith. In the due course of time, God’s judgment will prove to be true in the eyes of men. The only means men have to judge is by the works they observe. Justification in the eyes of men comes by works.
Of course, justification by God is salvation. Justification from men merely validates God’s judgment. All God’s judgments are true (Revelation 19:1-10).
Further Reference:
In the Scripture, Abraham’s story is told in Genesis 11-25, and he is also mentioned in Exodus 2:24, Acts 7:2-8, Romans 4, Galatians 3 and Hebrews 2, 6, 7 and 11.
Some text for this post has been borrowed from my Kindle eBook Faith, Hope and Love (Book 2 of the Grace and Knowledge Series), by Brother Woody Brohm. Copyright 2013.
I’ve included the full text of the book on this blog and you are free to read the book in this format if you please. Just follow the Next Section Link or view the Table of Contents to skip to wherever you prefer.
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
