How Did Abraham Live By Faith?

The definition of faith is clear in Hebrews.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” -Hebrews 11:1

The heroes of our faith described in Hebrews 11 trusted in the words and the promises of God even though they could not touch, see, or emotionally feel Him. They had confidence in what they hoped for—a reality that could not be seen but that was and is certain.

Today let’s look at one man who the Bible teaches was a person of great faith—Abraham.

Romans 4 gives us great insight into Abraham’s life and how faith works when the reality of what God says seems ridiculous.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.” -Romans 4:18-19

The picture is clear. God promised that Abraham and Sarah would have a child and that through that child the whole world would be blessed. A 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old woman weren’t having children in those days, just like today. There was no hope from the natural perspective that there would ever be a child.

The only hope Sarah and Abraham had was God Almighty, who could not be seen.

Hopeless circumstances and hopeless obstacles, yet Abraham believed God’s promises when he was mocked by others. He even grew in his faith because he gave glory to God even though the promise he was given seemed unbelievable to him and to everyone around him.

How can we have this same kind of great faith? How can we trust our Savior when everything we seem to touch goes down the drain or falls apart?

We believe in His promises in all circumstances.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” -Romans 8:35-37

Even though life tries to discourage us and Satan shouts, “How can God love you?” Abraham-like faith continues to praise God despite the overwhelming odds. Yes, there is pain, sorrow, and confusion, but our hearts continue to say, “I trust You, Father. It’s OK, and no matter what it takes to become the person You desire, have Your way with me.”

So whatever hopeless situation you may find yourself in today, may you and I both learn that our hope is that God has promised us His presence and power to give Him the glory.

Why? Because our Lord has told us that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).” We can cling to that promise.

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