Faith Obeys and Patiently Endures

October, 2002

by: John Richard

All people have varying levels of abilities in all activities, from specific techniques to mundane events. For example, everyone can sing or at least make noise. However, some can sing in tune and even sing solos. My dad used to tell me to sing a solo; so low that no one could hear me. Another activity that all people can do is learn information. However, some people have an ability to learn information at a more rapid rate than others do. People truly do have varying levels of ability. Often, people look to those who are talented in certain areas to train them. A young aspiring athlete wouldn't go to a person who doesn't know the difference between a ball and a bat; but someone who knows the game of baseball.

This is how it is in our Christian walk. Yearning believers often go to those who are knowledgeable of the Word of God and who are wise. They also seek to learn from the Bible, which was written (2 Tim. 3:16), by the all–wise God (1 Tim. 1:17). One specific chapter in the Bible, which relays information about faithful people, who believers should try to emulate in their walk, is Hebrews 11, otherwise known as the “Hall of Faith.” In this chapter, one man is conspicuous, due to the volume of information written about him. Although the other people were faithful, God had His Word say more about one individual than any other when it comes to faith. This man is Abraham.

Abraham was a great man of God, obviously since he is listed here in chapter 11 of Hebrews. Besides Moses, he is the most noted Old Testament figure in the New Testament. His greatness is of no question. Christians, Jewish people, and even Moslems recognize him as a great man of God. “Someone has taken the trouble to go through the Koran, and has found that Abraham is mentioned no less than 188 times in that book” (Morgan, The Triumphs of Faith, 76). Abraham was a friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23), thus he did what the Lord commanded him (John 15:14). “Without any doubt Abraham is the greatest example of faith in the Bible. Of course, others such as Enoch and Noah lived extraordinary lives of faith, but none are so closely chronicled as that of Abraham. And we do not find such detail about the inception, progress, and ultimate display of faith as is given regarding Abraham in his epic life as recorded in Genesis 12-25. His faith was so celebrated in Old Testament times that the Levitical prayer of confession extolled God and lauded Abraham's faith: Nehemiah 9:7-8” (Hughes, Hebrews, Volume 2, 95).

So what can we learn from this great man of faith? Just like an aspiring singer gets voice lessons from a great singer, so we need to learn how to be faithful from Abraham. Just like an ambitious basketball player would try to learn from Michael Jordan, so we need to tenaciously learn how Abraham's faith worked. So what can he teach us about faith? Why was he such a great man of faith? Well, stay tuned to next month's article to find out. However, in the mean time, know that Abraham was a great man of faith, who completely trusted in God. Do you completely trust in God? How much do you really trust in God?