Abram (later renamed Abraham) is the Father of the Christian faith. Not only the Christian faith but he is also the father of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. If you’re looking for a strong, faithful man, Abram would readily come to mind.

At this point, Abram was 75 years old, married to Sarai (later Sarah) who was barren. As was the custom at the time, he lived with his parents and had two brothers. Apparently, his father, Terah, was a wealthy man. Let’s drop in on an imaginary conversation between Abram and his parents. Abram: “Dad, we need to talk.” Dad: “Sure, son, what’s on your mind?” Abram: “Well, last night God spoke to me and told me to leave Haran, to leave my family and move from your house.” Dad: “That’s ridiculous! What God is this you speak of? My God didn’t tell me anything about this. Do you need to have your head examined? Where will you go? What will you do?” Abram: “This God just spoke to me for the first time, but something about Him seemed so real, so genuine. It’s almost as if I can’t resist His call. But He told me some really awesome stuff. He said he would make me into a great nation.”Dad: “How are you going to become a great nation? Sarai is barren. You’re 75 years old and you and Sarai are going to become a great nation? Come on.” Abram: “If you would let me finish and quit interrupting me, I’ll tell you what He said. He will bless me, my name will become great, I will be a blessing to others and God will bless those who bless me. In fact, He said that I will bless all the families on the earth.” Dad: I’m not sure what you’ve been smoking, but you seem intent on this mission. Take your family and possessions and go. Just for good measure, take your nephew Lot. He’s not doing me any good, maybe he will be of help to you. When you fail, don’t come crawling back to me. I told you this was a hair-brained idea you have. You’re going to be the death of me.”

Abram Departs Haran As we read in Genesis 12, Abram took Sarai and Lot and departed Haran. He took with him their possessions, servants (slaves) and headed to the land of Canaan. We must suppose Abram headed in this direction under God’s guidance Genesis 12:5-6 records “they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time. And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’”

At this point, two significant events occurred. Abram heard from God and he erected an altar. Likely, Abram was still a little in the dark about God’s plans. I can visualize Abram talking to God “Hey, Lord. You’ve brought me to Canaan but it’s full of Canaanites. Am I on the right track?” In His infinite wisdom God again showed up affirming that Abram was still on track. ”To your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7). This was what Abram needed for he proceeded to build an altar. In a religious context, there are many reasons for altars, but their focus is on the worship of God. Abram showed God that He was still on board. The altar probably represented what Henry Blackaby makes reference to as “spiritual markers, a time or place when you knew God spoke to you.” This was a place of remembrance for Abram. Through the years, Abram could look back and recall this experience. It helps us if we can look back to our spiritual markers, a time when we had a significant encounter with God.

Abram Falters Despite all of the positive aspects of Abram’s walk with God, he was far from perfect. Abram was no different than we are, in this respect. I can recall three significant times when Abram’s faith weakened. The first occurred during a famine in the land, so Abram journeyed to Egypt where things were supposedly better. On the way, Abram told Sarai “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” Abram’s faith faltered. That ruse failed, but literally it put the fear of God in Pharaoh. How often have we not been fully transparent in our conversations, trying to avoid unpleasant consequences?

In the second case, Abram (and Sarai) got impatient. They were getting older and still had no son. Abram had relations with Hagar, and bore a son, Ishmael. Under the law, Ishmael became Abram’s heir. Abram was 86 at this time. Time slowly marched on. Through the years, I have learned that God is faithful to fulfill His promises, it’s just that I am not operating on God’s timeline and get impatient, just as Abram and Sarai did.

Thirteen years later, God showed up again. He renewed His covenant with Abram in Genesis 17 adding some details to the covenant. Abram also got a new name that seemed to take things a step further. Abram (Exalted Father) became Abraham (Father of a multitude). Similar names with a shade of difference in the meanings. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. From “My Princess” to “Mother of Nations.

God’s plan has definitely shifted into a new gear. Shortly after this encounter, three strangers showed up at Abraham’s door. They proceeded to prophesy that “next year this time, Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:10). Again, this anointed couple didn’t take God seriously. Sarah laughed, denied she did, and God upbraided her saying to Abraham ”Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I actually give birth to a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” And, of course, the birth of Issac occurred as prophesied.

Abraham was a faithful servant of God but he was not perfect. Like all of us he faltered. But he was a man mightily used of God. I think there are at least four things we can learn from his relationship with God.

God Affirms Us When Abraham faltered, God came and reminded him of His promises to make him a great nation. The scope of the promises made to Abraham is so unlikely, Abraham needed reassurance from time to time. After all, it was 25 years from the time Abraham left his home until the birth of Isaac. Time is meaningless to God. From Abraham’s experience, we can see that God will be there for us.
As finite human beings, we cannot possibly see everything from God’s perspective. When things don’t go as we think they should we need to “Let Go and Let God.”
God is Faithful I wonder how many times in that 25-year period, Abraham doubted. Maybe he thought he heard God wrong. Maybe he thought he dreamed it all up. But ultimately, God showed Himself as faithful in fulfilling all of His promises to Abraham.

Our God is the Same Unchanging God that Abraham Worshiped It is a cliché but true. Our God is unchanging. We can benefit from seeing thousands of years of God working with mankind. We can see God’s faithfulness over those years. Abraham did not have this privilege. God was brand new to him.

The next time you feel that God is no longer there, Think of Abraham and the years he waited. Think of your own spiritual markers that remind you of what God has done in your past. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song, “My Redeemer is Faithful and True,” Those lyrics remind us of God’s faithfulness.

“My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
And in every situation He has proved His love to me; When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me.”

Unless otherwise noted all scripture quotations are from the NASB.