Abraham’s Obedience of Faith
Heb. 11:8-10, 17-19
Introduction
Among the heroes of the Bible, Abraham seems to be very special. Abraham’s name was “Abram” at first, meaning “exalted father”, but God changed it to “Abraham,” meaning father many nations (Gen. 17:5). It is written in Romans 4:11 that he will be called “the father of all them that believe”. In James 2:23, he was called “Friend of God”. As I go reading Chapter 11, I noticed that only one verse is given to describe Abel, Enoch, and Noah. But for Abraham, there were at least twelve verses to describe him. Abraham stands out as one of Israel’s greatest heroes. The Jews, Christians, as well as Islam, gives him much respect and admiration.
I. His Obedience
A. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; (Heb. 11:8). Abraham was called by the Lord to go out into a place, he obeyed. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed God. Obedience is always God’s requirement. Always remember that obedience always results in the blessing of God. When God commands us to do something, He expects absolute or complete obedience. Incomplete or half-hearted obedience is disobedience. We must realize that obedience and disobedience have consequences. It is written that “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known”. (Deut. 11:26-28)
B. The Lord gave Israel a land over flowing with milk and honey, but they had to do right so they can enjoy the blessings. If they obeyed God’s Word, He would bless them. If they disobeyed His Word, then He would curse them. God blesses obedience and He punishes disobedience. Obedience is the greatest test of our love for God. Jesus said: “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it”. (Lk. 11:28)
Illustration/Application: Faithful Dog
How we admire the obedience a dog shows to its master! Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked out-of-doors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest. His faithful friend understood, for that’s exactly what he did. Then a fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the spot where the dog had been left. But he didn’t move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master’s word.
With tearful eyes, the dog’s owner said, “I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew he would do it.” Our Daily Bread, January, 19
II. His unquestioning Faith
A. … and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Heb. 11:8). Obedience is the secret of success in Abraham’s life. He didn’t ask any question. He obeyed immediately, no delay, no reluctance. No explanation required. No complaint whatsoever. The things God wants us to do, we must be willing to do no matter what.
B. Together with the command was God’s promise of direction. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee. (Gen. 12:1). The command was Get thee out and the promise was “unto the land that I will show thee”. This is where his faith stands out. He left without a clear picture of where he is going. No road map, no GPS, no guide to point where to go, no nothing. Just the word from the Lord that God will show him the place. What a faith! So, Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him… (Gen. 12:4). Faith not only obeys regardless of what lies ahead, but faith also acts regardless of the situations. All Abraham had when he left home was the command and promise of God.
C. At the Word of God, Abraham left everything. He left his comfort zone, his family, friends, etc., and became a pilgrim. If you hear God’s word today, are you willing to step out of faith and leave everything behind? Would you, do it?
Illustration/Application: Ours to Obey, His to Make Way
A pilot was having trouble bringing his plane down to land. From the control tower, he was given instructions. “But there is a pole there,” he objected. The answer came back, “You take care of the instructions; we will take care of the obstructions.”
So, with the child of God. In the Word, he or she has God’s instructions. God will take care of the obstructions. It is ours to obey the instructions from God’s Word.
A Treasury of Bible Illustrations.
III. His Pilgrim Faith
A. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (Heb. 11:9). The word sojourned comes from the Greek “paroikeo” and means “to reside as a foreigner, to be a stranger.” Abraham never built a house but rather lived in tents. He knew that his stay there is only temporary. Peter said that we are to be strangers (1 Peter 2:11). Abraham lived in the land of Canaan, but he never settled down there. He knew that Canaan was not his true home.
B. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Heb. 11:10). Abraham moved from place to place but he never found any satisfaction. He had a vision of the heavenly city whose builder and maker are God. Abraham knew that his ultimate Promise land is heaven. As true believers of Christ our citizenship is in heaven. We are just Pilgrims here, strangers, foreigners in this world. Heaven is a place that is far better than anything here on earth. Once we fix our heart in Heaven it’s hard to be at home in this world anymore. We will be always longing for our heavenly home.
IV. His Tried Faith
A. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (Heb. 11:17). The supreme test of Abraham’s faith was the sacrificial offering of Isaac. Abraham was willing to do it in obedience to God. Though the command seems to contradict the divine promise; “for in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Gen. 21:12). He is willing to sacrifice his only begotten son typifying God the Father “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all (Rom. 8:32).
God tests our faithfulness. Sometimes the more faithful we are, the harder the test.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead… (Heb. 11:19). Abraham trusted in the resurrecting power of God. He is ready to offer Isaac and witness his resurrection. Abraham had never seen or heard of someone being resurrected from the dead. However, Abraham had faith that God would fulfil His promises.
V. Abraham Was Triumphant
A. … from whence also he received him in a figure. (Heb. 11:19). The word figure is of a type or a picture. Abraham saw the work of the promised Messiah in Isaac. Isaac is a type of Christ.
Christ and Isaac were both Sons of promise (Gen. 18:18; Gal. 3:16).
Like Christ, Isaac trusted his father and was willing to be sacrificed at his hand.
Both Christ and Isaac carried wood for their sacrifice (Gen. 22:6; John 19:17-18).
Both Christ and Isaac were the only Son (Heb. 11:17; Jn. 3:16). (Hebrews by Glen Spencer).
B. Abraham’s faith was in God’s ability to do what He had promised. In the heart and mind of Abraham, Isaac was as good as dead. God commanded the sacrifice and Abraham is willing to offer Isaac. Abraham fully believed that Isaac would die and God would resurrect him. In that, Isaac prefigured the resurrection of Jesus. That is what Jesus was talking about when He said to the Jews, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (Jn. 8:56) What a great faith Abraham had!
C. The Word of God is very clear in Gen. 15:6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Because of Abraham’s faith, he was declared righteous.
VI. Spiritual Lessons from Abraham
1. Faith means obeying God even when we don’t understand his revealed will. (Gen. 12:1-9; 22:1-18; Heb. 11:17-19).
2. Following God should radically change our relationship to the world; it may even mean severing ties with friends and family (Gen. 12:1; Rom. 12:2).
3. Taking matters into our own hands can cause problems for ourselves and others (Gen. 16, 21:8-21).
4. Righteousness comes by faith, not by works (Gen. 15:6).
5. Focusing on eternity will help us endure the hard times in this life (Heb. 11:8-10) (Wilmington)
VII. Conclusion:
In obedience to God’s command, Abraham left everything not knowing where he is going. He sojourned in the land of promise as a stranger. He lived in tents for he knows that his stay there is only temporary. He is looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. His supreme test was when he was asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac. His willingness to do it proved that his faith in God is real. How about you, my friend? Is your faith in Christ real?
