The Father of Faith
God sees your heart and is pleased with you on account of your faithfulness. He will reward you as you seek Him! But without
faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6) If you have been waiting for the manifestation of God’s blessings in some area of your life,
then let us look into the life of “the father of faith” for some answers. Although Abraham was ultimately blessed, he had some
times of struggle. As we discover why he struggled and apply the scriptural answers to our lives, we should experience more
“Hallelujah! We made it,” shouts of victory.
Abram was a mature, seventy-five year old man when he was instructed by God to get out of his country and go to Canaan.
Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will
show you. (Gen. 12:1) He obeyed God’s instructions and built an altar unto the Lord in Canaan, but he did not wait there.
When the famine came, He went to Egypt. Two problems arose out of that action; he felt he had to give his wife to Pharaoh to
“stay alive" and they picked up a servant named Hagar. Later God instructed Abram that he was going to be the father of a
multitude. Then He [the Lord] brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to
number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (Gen. 15:5) Abram believed God but did not wait for God’s
timing for the promise to be established. He was persuaded by Sarai to marry Hagar in order to give him a son. Two
problems occurred from that action; strife arose with his wife, and Hagar’s son became the father of the Islam nation. [Future
adversaries of the nation of Israel]
Abram was obedient and had faith to believe God. He just didn’t have the patience to wait on the blessing. While he was
waiting on God, Abram attempted alternative methods to “get the job done.” Each time he took it upon himself to work out a
natural solution; greater problems loomed because of Abram’s quick fix. The irony is that because of his impatience, it took
over twenty-five years for the promise of God [Isaac] to be realized in Abram’s and Sarai’s life. When Abram was ninety-nine
years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will
make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” (Gen. 17:1) Each promise from God was followed
by a period of waiting for His perfect timing to accomplish what He had promised. Problems were created through a lack of
patience. Some of Abram’s alternative solutions have resulted in problems that are still with us today.
What are we to learn about God and faith? First, our faith pleases God. (see Heb. 11:6) Second, God never breaks a promise
and always keeps covenant. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
(Heb. 10:23) Third, the Lord’s timing is different than ours and we must wait for Him to manifest the blessing. Our soul
waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)
And, what we are to learn from Abraham, the Father of Faith? We do not have to be perfect. We do have to believe the
promises of God and continue to wait after His instruction for His timing. We need to resist the good idea [“Egypt” fix]when we
feel like we are in a famine. Through faith AND patience we WILL inherit His promise which is to bless us. (See Heb.6:12)
[Recommended study and meditation – Luke 8:1-15]
In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
God sees your heart and is pleased with you on account of your faithfulness. He will reward you as you seek Him! But without
faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6) If you have been waiting for the manifestation of God’s blessings in some area of your life,
then let us look into the life of “the father of faith” for some answers. Although Abraham was ultimately blessed, he had some
times of struggle. As we discover why he struggled and apply the scriptural answers to our lives, we should experience more
“Hallelujah! We made it,” shouts of victory.
Abram was a mature, seventy-five year old man when he was instructed by God to get out of his country and go to Canaan.
Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will
show you. (Gen. 12:1) He obeyed God’s instructions and built an altar unto the Lord in Canaan, but he did not wait there.
When the famine came, He went to Egypt. Two problems arose out of that action; he felt he had to give his wife to Pharaoh to
“stay alive" and they picked up a servant named Hagar. Later God instructed Abram that he was going to be the father of a
multitude. Then He [the Lord] brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to
number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” (Gen. 15:5) Abram believed God but did not wait for God’s
timing for the promise to be established. He was persuaded by Sarai to marry Hagar in order to give him a son. Two
problems occurred from that action; strife arose with his wife, and Hagar’s son became the father of the Islam nation. [Future
adversaries of the nation of Israel]
Abram was obedient and had faith to believe God. He just didn’t have the patience to wait on the blessing. While he was
waiting on God, Abram attempted alternative methods to “get the job done.” Each time he took it upon himself to work out a
natural solution; greater problems loomed because of Abram’s quick fix. The irony is that because of his impatience, it took
over twenty-five years for the promise of God [Isaac] to be realized in Abram’s and Sarai’s life. When Abram was ninety-nine
years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will
make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” (Gen. 17:1) Each promise from God was followed
by a period of waiting for His perfect timing to accomplish what He had promised. Problems were created through a lack of
patience. Some of Abram’s alternative solutions have resulted in problems that are still with us today.
What are we to learn about God and faith? First, our faith pleases God. (see Heb. 11:6) Second, God never breaks a promise
and always keeps covenant. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
(Heb. 10:23) Third, the Lord’s timing is different than ours and we must wait for Him to manifest the blessing. Our soul
waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)
And, what we are to learn from Abraham, the Father of Faith? We do not have to be perfect. We do have to believe the
promises of God and continue to wait after His instruction for His timing. We need to resist the good idea [“Egypt” fix]when we
feel like we are in a famine. Through faith AND patience we WILL inherit His promise which is to bless us. (See Heb.6:12)
[Recommended study and meditation – Luke 8:1-15]
In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
