Applying Abraham's Faith in Difficult Circumstances Biblically
Abraham's faith, particularly in difficult circumstances, serves as a significant biblical example for believers. The book of Hebrews highlights Abraham's obedience when called by God to leave his home for an unknown inheritance, stating he "went out, not knowing where he went" [1]. This act of faith involved trusting God's promise despite uncertainty.
One of the most profound tests of Abraham's faith occurred when God commanded him to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice [2]. Josephus records Abraham's deep love for Isaac, his "only begotten" son, born in Abraham's old age, and how Abraham placed his happiness in Isaac's future [5]. Yet, Abraham proceeded with the command, demonstrating his unwavering trust in God. The book of 1 Maccabees also notes Abraham's faithfulness in this "temptation" [3]. This event is often understood as a demonstration of a "working faith," not merely passive assent, but an active trust that manifests in obedience [9].
Abraham faced other challenging situations that tested his faith. A famine in Canaan led him to go to Egypt, seeking sustenance [6]. During this time, and later in Gerar, Abraham misrepresented his wife Sarah as his sister out of fear for his life, a "dissimulation" he had used before [7]. While these instances show moments of human weakness, the overarching narrative emphasizes his continued reliance on God's promises [8]. John Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, suggests that God sometimes presents His word in ways that might seem contradictory to human understanding, thereby testing the constancy of faith [10]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, notes that the famine in Canaan was a trial designed to test Abraham's faith in God's provision, preventing him from questioning God's wisdom in leading him there [11].
The blessing promised to Abraham was not solely for him but extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, allowing them to "receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" [4]. This demonstrates that Abraham's faith has enduring significance, serving as a model for all who believe. The "work of faith" is seen as a continuous chain of action, leading to its full development [9]. The example of Abraham's faith in the face of trials underscores the idea that genuine faith is active and persevering, even when circumstances are dire or God's commands are perplexing.
Sources
- Hebrews “By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. -- Hebrews 11:8”
- Hebrews “By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; -- Hebrews 11:17”
- I Maccabees “I Maccabees 2:52 (DRC) — Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reputed to him unto justice?”
- Galatians “that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. -- Galatians 3:14”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 13, section 1: . Concerning Isaac The Legitimate Son Of Abraham. 1. Now Abraham greatly loved Isaac, as being his only begotten 27 and given to him at the borders of old age, by the favor of God. The child also endeared himself to his parents still more, by the exercise of every virtue, and adhering to his duty to his parents, and being zealous in the worship of God. Abraham also placed his own happiness in this prospect, that, when he should die, he should leave this his son in a safe and secure condition; which accordingly he obtained by the”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 1: . That When There Was A Famine In Canaan, Abram Went Thence Into Egypt; And After He Had Continued There A While He Returned Back Again. 1. Now, after this, when a famine had invaded the land of Canaan, and Abram had discovered that the Egyptians were in a flourishing condition, he was disposed to go down to them, both to partake of the plenty they enjoyed, and to become an auditor of their priests, and to know what they said concerning the gods; designing either to follow them, if they had better notions than he, or to convert t”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 12, section 1: . Concerning Abimelech; And Concerning Ismael The Son Of Abraham; And Concerning The Arabians, Who Were His Posterity. 1. Abraham now removed to Gerar of Palestine, leading Sarah along with him, under the notion of his sister, using the like dissimulation that he had used before, and this out of fear: for he was afraid of Abimelech, the king of that country, who did also himself fall in love with Sarah, and was disposed to corrupt her; but he was restrained from satisfying his lust by a dangerous distemper which befell him from ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 26.6: shaken off. But now all occasion of doubt is removed; so that, without controversy, he acknowledges the oracle, which he hears, to be from God. Meanwhile, God, in a certain sense, assumes a double character, that, by the appearance of disagreement and repugnance in which He presents Himself in his word, he may distract and wound the breast of the holy man. For the only method of cherishing constancy of faith, is to apply all our senses to the word of God. But so great was then the discrepancy of the word, that it would wound and l”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 12:10: Here is, I. A famine in the land of Canaan, a grievous famine. That fruitful land was turned into barrenness, not only to punish the iniquity of the Canaanites who dwelt therein, but to exercise the faith of Abram who sojourned therein; and a very sore trial it was; it tried what he would think, 1. Of God that brought him thither, whether he would not be ready to say with his murmuring seed that he was brought forth to be killed with hunger, Exo 16:3. Nothing short of a strong faith could keep up god thoughts of God under such a providence. 2. Of the land of pro”