Introduction. Our response to any of God’s commands with a promise always reveals our trust in God. No matter how wonderful and exciting the promise, it will not lead to a change of behavior or great efforts if there is any doubt about the certainty of being fulfilled. This sums up God’s interest in how Abraham responded to His promises. The more effort and sacrifice Abraham was willing to make, the more trust and confidence he manifested to God. Confidence in God is always seen in how much motivation, patience, endurance, and effort it creates. Without that, we don’t believe or trust to the level God demands in order to reckon it to us as righteousness.
Abram left Haran at God’s command to move to Canaan when he was 75. God promised to give him the land as an inheritance and make him a great nation (Gen 12:1-4). “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.” (Heb. 11:8). After years of waiting, Abraham expressed his concern that he was still childless, yet it did not affect his obedience. God then expanded the promise. A son would come from his own body. His unwavering faith and trust in God was so great, “He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
This is the first time we see the premium and value God places on our trust in Him. Both favor and salvation are based on the depth of that trust. When Abraham was 85, Sarai did waver and devised her own plan to help God fulfill His promise. The ill-formed plan ended in disaster, but Abraham did have a son. (Gen. 15:1-6; 16:1-4).
God then made Abram wait another fourteen years. At ninety-nine, God gave the covenant of circumcision. If Abram circumcised himself and his entire household, God promised “you shall be a father of many nations.” In preparation, God then said, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” Then came the most amazing and exciting promise of all! Sarai’s name (meaning “princess” in a limited sense) must also be changed! God told Abraham her name would now be “Sarah” because “I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
Abram left Haran at God’s command to move to Canaan when he was 75. God promised to give him the land as an inheritance and make him a great nation (Gen 12:1-4). “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.” (Heb. 11:8). After years of waiting, Abraham expressed his concern that he was still childless, yet it did not affect his obedience. God then expanded the promise. A son would come from his own body. His unwavering faith and trust in God was so great, “He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
This is the first time we see the premium and value God places on our trust in Him. Both favor and salvation are based on the depth of that trust. When Abraham was 85, Sarai did waver and devised her own plan to help God fulfill His promise. The ill-formed plan ended in disaster, but Abraham did have a son. (Gen. 15:1-6; 16:1-4).
God then made Abram wait another fourteen years. At ninety-nine, God gave the covenant of circumcision. If Abram circumcised himself and his entire household, God promised “you shall be a father of many nations.” In preparation, God then said, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” Then came the most amazing and exciting promise of all! Sarai’s name (meaning “princess” in a limited sense) must also be changed! God told Abraham her name would now be “Sarah” because “I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”