Yesterday we heard Paul say that righteousness is something we could never earn but only receive through faith in Christ as a gift from God. Paul continues to expound this in chapter 4 by focusing on the faith of Abraham. He was without question one of the outstanding individuals of the Old Testament. In Genesis 12 God told Abraham to uproot himself and his family and move to a new land. It was a test of faith and obedience for a 75-year-old man. Abraham did as he was told even though he didn’t know where he was going. God had made promises to Abraham regarding his descendants and given that he and his wife Sarah were way past child bearing years it came as a shock when God, true to His word, gave them a son at the ripe old age of 100 and 90. His son was named Isaac.

Sometime later came the greatest test of Abraham’s life. God told him to travel to a distant mountain and offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Put yourself in Abraham’s place. What conflicting emotions must have raged through his mind. Why would God want him dead? Abraham had waited so long for a son and now he would have to lose him. On the other hand, Abraham reasoned that God could raise Isaac from the dead and that God knew what he was doing. God intervened at the last moment and spared Isaac. God told Abraham “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Gen. 22:12). Clearly Abraham believed God and that faith, his trusting belief in God, was counted to Abraham as righteousness. Abraham was not justified by works, God wasn’t paying him back for something he’d done. Abraham was justified through faith as God’s gift to him.

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Question:

Has your faith ever been tested to the limit when you felt it was too difficult or painful a test to fully trust in God? How would you have reacted if you were put in Abraham’s position and asked to sacrifice a child of yours, how strong is your faith in moments like this?

Prayer:

Thank you, God for your faithfulness and gift of grace when we face testing times. Help us to face challenges in life trusting in your promises and give us the courage to face them with belief and faith in you. Amen.