Abraham trusted God and left everything for a new homeland. But his faith in God was far from perfect. He faltered and doubted along the way. Like Abraham, our faith takes time to develop – as we continue to trust in God.
God’s Story Takes Time to Unfold
God’s promises to Abraham didn’t materialize right away. God didn’t tell him just how events would play out. So Abraham’s faith wavered. God promised that he would become the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:2), but some time later, Abraham didn’t even have children. In response, God gave new assurances.
Genesis 15:2-4 Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?…. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”
The road to God’s purposes will involve delays, obstacles, and tests. It’s easy to doubt what God will do. His plans usually become more clear over time, but not always at first. Yet along the way, God welcomes honest questions.
[Related: What Is the Story of the Old Testament?]
God Secures Your Place in His Story
Abraham’s relationship with God came at God’s initiative. God sought him first. God started the conversation. Not only that, God also secures his promises. God promised Abraham that his descendants would own the land where Abraham lived as a foreigner. But again, Abraham wasn’t convinced,
Genesis 15:8 O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?
In response, God bound himself to his promises through a covenant. Covenants were common in the ancient world. A covenant was like a treaty, ensuring faithfulness between two parties. Both parties pledged to fulfill certain conditions. As God moved from promise to covenant, it was like reinforcing a handshake agreement with a written contract.
Genesis 15:18 So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River…”
Unlike most covenants, God’s agreement with Abraham was unilateral. God placed no conditions on Abraham. God pledged his faithfulness, but did not ask Abraham to pledge anything in return. In fact, during the ratification ceremony, God put Abraham into a deep sleep (Genesis 15:12). It’s like God signed the contract for both sides.
Likewise, God secures our place in his story through his unilateral action toward us in Christ. Jesus established a new covenant between us and God. Like Abraham’s, this was initiated entirely by God. It is based only on what God does for us, not on what we do.
[Related: An Animated Explanation of ‘The Covenants’]
[Related: 7 Major Events in the History of God and People]
Your Part in the Story Is to Keep Trusting God
In his highest moment, Abraham responded to God’s promises with faith. As a result, God considered Abraham to be a righteous man.
Genesis 15:6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Abraham’s faith became a model for a relationship with God.
The blessings of Jesus’s new covenant include forgiveness of our sins, a reconciled relationship with God, membership in God’s family, and more. Like Abraham, we receive these blessings, not by obedience or worthiness, but by trusting in God’s action for us – through Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Having entered God’s story by trusting in Jesus, we continue in a growing journey of faith through all the twists and turns of life. In tough times you might be tempted to give up on God. But remember: it can take a lifetime to develop deep faith. Don’t give up on God. As you keep trusting in his faithfulness, your faith will continue to grow.
[Related: How Abraham’s Covenant Includes Us]
[Related: The Last Supper]
