Walking in Faith: Trusting the Journey Ahead - Lessons from the Life of Abraham

"Sacrifice your son as a burnt offering, " God told Abram. Mothers, what would you do if your husband came home and told you that God told him to offer your son as a burnt offering? In the tapestry of human history, few stories stand out as testaments to unwavering faith and trust in a higher purpose, than this inspiring narrative of the life of Abram, a pivotal figure in the biblical traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Abram's journey serves as a profound example of walking in faith and trusting God in the journey ahead despite uncertainties and challenges. In this blog post, we delve into the life of Abraham to glean valuable lessons about navigating life's uncertainties with faith as our guiding light.

The various stories in the life of Abram show the strong relationship and communication that God and Abram had, which serves as motivation for us to develop a similar relationship with God.

 

The Call to Travel to Unfamiliar Territories

Abram was born in Ur (Iraq) and his father took him and the family on a journey to Canaan, but they stopped and lived in Haran (southeastern Turkey). Abram’s father died in Haran. Abram was seventy-five (75) years old when he had an encounter with God, who told him to leave and go on a journey to an unknown destination. This call required him to step out of his comfort zone, leave behind the familiar, and venture into the unfamiliar. Similarly, in our own lives, embracing faith often involves stepping into the unknown, and trusting that there is a greater purpose beyond our immediate understanding. Has the Lord been telling you to do something that seems daunting or uncomfortable?

 

Faith in the Face of Uncertainty

 

As Abram embarked on his journey, with his wife, his nephew, and his servants, they encountered numerous uncertainties – the challenges of an arduous journey, the fear of the unknown, and the uncertainty of his destination. When Abram reached the land of Canaan the Lord told him that He was going to give this land to him and his seed. Abram trusted the divine promise that he would be guided and blessed. What is the Lord telling you in your situation? Likewise, in your life, embracing faith means acknowledging uncertainties but believing in a higher plan that unfolds gradually.

Famine broke out in the land of Canaan, so Abram left Canaan and went with his family to Egypt. There Abram faced a dilemma. He feared for his life as he surmised that because his wife Sarai was beautiful, they would kill him and take her. He felt that if she told them that she was his sister they would spare his life. As predicted, the Egyptians liked Sarai, and because she said that they were siblings they gave Abram many gifts but took Sarai into the palace. Wives and Husbands what do you think about what Abram proposed?  Wives, how would you feel about your husband if he did that? Fortunately for them both, the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. This prevented them from having sexual pleasure with Sarai. They sent Abram and Sarai away. When they left Egypt, they were rich because of the gifts that they had gotten from the Egyptians. They then went back to Canaan.  

 

 A Test of Patience

 

The Lord reassured Abram that he was not to fear because He was his shield, and his exceeding great reward. Abram asked God for a child because Sarai struggled with infertility. The Lord told him that He would give him a great number of offspring. Abram believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness. What a great promise God gave Abram. What are the promises that Jesus has given you? Do you have the faith to believe in Jesus’ promises to you? When Abram left Haran to go to Canaan, he was seventy-five years old. He had the promise of God that his wife would have a son, however, after ten years (Genesis 16:3) Sarai got frustrated because she was still not able to have a child. She told Abram to have a child with her maid, Hagar.

Their faith was being tested and they lost patience and took matters into their own hands. What would you do if you were in their situation? Have you ever lost patience while waiting for the Lord to fulfill His promises to you? This teaches us that walking in faith often involves enduring periods of waiting and trusting that the journey will unfold according to God’s divine timeline.

 

 Navigating Setbacks with Trust

 

Abram had many setbacks during his journey. He faced famine, conflicts, and numerous other challenges. However, each setback became an opportunity for him to strengthen his faith. In our lives, setbacks are inevitable, but like Abram, we can navigate them with trust, knowing that they are part of a greater plan.

Abram had sex with Hagar, and they had a son named Ishmael. Now, when Abram was ninety years old (90) (Genesis 17) God called him again and changed his name from Abram to Abraham, and Sarai’s name was changed from Sarai to Sarah. God also told Abraham that he was going to be the father of many nations and that he was establishing His covenant with him. God said Sarah would bring forth a child and that He would bless her, and she would be a mother of nations, and kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?”  And God said, “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; indeed, and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him”. Does the promise of God seem crazy to you sometimes?

God was on His way to Sodom and Gomorrah when He stopped by His friend Abraham and informed him that (Genesis 18) “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son”.  Sarah heard it and laughed within herself, saying, she was too old for sex and having children, and Abraham was old also.  And the Lord said unto Abraham, wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, “Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?  Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Then Sarah denied, saying, “I laughed not”; for she was afraid. And he said, “Nay; but thou didst laugh”.

Sarah conceived and had a son named Issac when Abraham was 100 years old. It took 25 years for that promise to be fulfilled (Genesis 21) Many times when we read the bible and when we listen to preachers, it seems that many of the miracles of God happen immediately, but most times it takes time which requires us to have patience. Do you have this kind of patience?

 

The Ultimate Test of Sacrifice

The extent of Abraham's faith was demonstrated in the ultimate test – the command to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Can you imagine waiting for 25 years to have a child, and then being told to offer him up as a burnt sacrifice? What a challenging and perplexing directive. I had asked earlier, what would your response be to this request from God. Abraham's unwavering obedience showcased a depth of trust that transcends human understanding. This narrative invites us to reflect on our own willingness to surrender control and trust in God's divine plan, even when faced with the most difficult circumstances. How close, how intimate is your relationship with Jesus Christ, are you His friend and do you obey Him?  

Conclusion:

 

Abraham's journey is a timeless narrative that resonates across cultures and religions, offering profound insights into the nature of faith and trust. As we navigate the uncertainties of our own lives, we can draw inspiration from Abraham's example – embracing the call to adventure, facing uncertainties with faith, patiently enduring, navigating setbacks with trust, and ultimately surrendering to a higher purpose. Walking in faith is not just a journey; it's a transformative experience that shapes our character and deepens our connection to something greater than ourselves. In the words of Abraham, let us trust the journey ahead, for in faith, we find the strength to overcome, evolve, and discover the purpose woven into the very fabric of our existence.