Faith can Grow

When we read the account of Abraham in Genesis, it seems that he is a failure in the area of faith.

God commanded him to leave his family behind in Ur. But he takes his father and nephew with him.

Rather than staying in the Promised Land, he leaves in the time of famine.

To save his life, he lies about his wife, saying she is his sister.

Two times he came up with a plan for an heir. The first time wanting to name his servant an heir. The second time committing adultery with Sarah's servant.

He doesn't seem to be a man of faith at all. God places tests before him and each time he fails.

But when it comes to offering Isaac as a sacrifice, his faith doesn't waver.

"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back" (Hebr 11:17-19).

Abraham remembered what God had promised. Isaac would be the chosen seed, the line of promise. So God had to have an alternate plan. If God wanted Isaac to be killed, God would have to raise him from the dead.

It took almost 40 years for Abraham to trust God, but he did learn. After years of trying to solve God's problems on his own, Abraham learned that God was big enough to solve His problems. All Abraham had to do was to obey.

There's hope for me then. I can learn to trust God. I have failed and probably will fail again. But God is big enough to keep His word.