Abraham

Following God’s Promise

Miles Custis

Michael R. Grigoni

Douglas Mangum

Matthew M. Whitehead

Michael R. Grigoni

Editor

Jim LePage

Graphic Designer

Studies in Faithful Living

Lexham Press, 2012

To all who respond in faith to God’s call

Introduction

In the life of faith, we often hear that the hardest step to take is the very first one. Abraham’s story opens with such a step, as God tells him, without invitation or warning, to “go … to the land that I will show you” (Gen 12:1). While Abraham responds in faith to this call, beginning one of the great narratives of the Bible, his subsequent steps do not get easier. His story teaches us something profound: that the life of faith is a journey made up of a series of “first steps.” While each of these steps brings us closer to the fulfillment of God’s promises, they don’t necessarily lead us farther away from the challenges and struggles involved with moving ahead.

Looking at the “steps” that make up the lives of characters like Abraham is one way to read and engage with the story of the Bible. This is the approach taken by Studies in Faithful Living. This series looks closely at the lives of those who lived in faithful response to God’s call. Each volume examines the events of these characters’ lives in order to draw out the lessons their faithful responses provide for us. In studying God’s Word in this way, we can learn to model those who have gone before us and grow in our efforts to model Christ. In doing so, we participate in the story the Bible narrates for us: God’s redeeming work in those He created in His image—a story of redemption that continues in the lives of those who respond to Him today.

Although the Bible often depicts Abraham as an exalted figure, his journey of faith resembles our own. Along with the glory of his victories, the Bible fully describes the scandalous details of his failures. It does not hide Abraham’s shortcomings; instead, it recounts these examples of failure so that we might have hope. In Abraham, we observe someone uniquely chosen to receive a grand promise: that he would become the father of a great nation and a channel of blessing to the world. Abraham embraced this promise, but it was 25 years before he saw it realized. As he waited on God, he battled fear, anxiety, and doubt. In Abraham, we see a reflection of ourselves.

Chapter 1 begins with an examination of Abraham’s response to God’s call. In Chapter 2, we witness the beginning of Abraham’s battle with fear as he leads Sarah into deception. Chapter 3 relates one of Abraham’s greatest successes following God’s reassurance of His promises: military victory and royal blessing. In Chapter 4, we find Abraham struggling deeply with doubt as he and Sarah turn to Hagar to provide an heir. We also consider the covenant ritual through which God reconfirms His promise. In Chapter 5, God further reveals His promise by giving Abraham the sign of circumcision. Abraham boldly bargains with God over the inhabitants of ...