Changes

Abraham is considered to be the father of many nations. In states in Genesis 15:6,  

Abraham is considered to be the father of many nations. In states in Genesis 15:6,  

“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

  Abraham believed that God would do all that He promised, and God accepted Abraham’s faith. However, God did not leave it there. He brought about many tests in Abraham’s life. The first step that Abraham needed to take after believing God was to carry out what God had told him to do. Abraham left his home not knowing where God would lead him, but God did lead him. How hard would it be for someone to pick up and leave everything they have ever known? God told him to search out the land He wanted him to go to, but He did not tell Abraham which way to go to look for this place. What an excellent example of walking by faith and not by sight. God led him through many things where Abraham did not always completely pass the tests God put him in, but God kept guiding Abraham along. God promised to make a great nation from Abraham and his family, but Abraham did not have any children. He was also getting very old, and so was Sarah his wife. However, God proved His awesome power by allowing Sarah to bear a child even after her natural time was passed. The Bible says in Genesis 21: 2-3,

  Abraham believed that God would do all that He promised, and God accepted Abraham’s faith. However, God did not leave it there. He brought about many tests in Abraham’s life. The first step that Abraham needed to take after believing God was to carry out what God had told him to do. Abraham left his home not knowing where God would lead him, but God did lead him. How hard would it be for someone to pick up and leave everything they have ever known? God told him to search out the land He wanted him to go to, but He did not tell Abraham which way to go to look for this place. What an excellent example of walking by faith and not by sight. God led him through many things where Abraham did not always completely pass the tests God put him in, but God kept guiding Abraham along. God promised to make a great nation from Abraham and his family, but Abraham did not have any children. He was also getting very old, and so was Sarah his wife. However, God proved His awesome power by allowing Sarah to bear a child even after her natural time was passed. The Bible says in Genesis 21: 2-3,

“For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age,

“For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age,

at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born

at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born

  unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.”

  unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.”

Through this God was still preparing Abraham for more tests. God did give Abraham a son by Sarah, and soon after receiving Isaac, God asked Abraham to give Isaac back to God by sacrificing him. Abraham had to exercise great faith by following God’s request. It was truly a test of faith for someone who had been promised to be made the father of many nations to give up the one visible beginning to that promise. Abraham had to not only trust God knew what He was talking about, but he also had to believe if God would take Isaac from him then He would provide another son. God did not let Abraham fulfill the sacrifice but provided a substitute for Isaac in the form of a ram. Abraham was justified by his faith, and his faith is the key to his salvation. Works are not a key to salvation, but they are an indication of one’s faith.  

Through this God was still preparing Abraham for more tests. God did give Abraham a son by Sarah, and soon after receiving Isaac, God asked Abraham to give Isaac back to God by sacrificing him. Abraham had to exercise great faith by following God’s request. It was truly a test of faith for someone who had been promised to be made the father of many nations to give up the one visible beginning to that promise. Abraham had to not only trust God knew what He was talking about, but he also had to believe if God would take Isaac from him then He would provide another son. God did not let Abraham fulfill the sacrifice but provided a substitute for Isaac in the form of a ram. Abraham was justified by his faith, and his faith is the key to his salvation. Works are not a key to salvation, but they are an indication of one’s faith.  

Through Abraham’s grandson Jacob, the nation of Israel would slowly begin to take form. God would later establish twelve tribes of Israel represented by ten of Jacob’s sons and two of his grandsons through his son Joseph. Joseph was yet another good example of someone who exercised great faith. Here was a young man whom his own brothers despised. God had big plans for this young man, and through Joseph’s faith, God used him greatly. This becomes a testimony to those who look back at his life, that when a believer is willing to place their faith in God, He can use that person mightily. Joseph was cast into a pit, and then his own brothers sold him as a slave. God had not forgotten Joseph, but He placed him in the house of Potiphar. It is in Potiphar’s house that Joseph’s faith became such a credit to his testimony. Potiphar made Joseph, who was his slave, head over his household affairs. However, God continues to test our faith to make it stronger, and He allowed more tests to come upon Joseph. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but his faith helped him flee from sin and its temptation. Yet the test continued when, Potiphar had to live with his wife, and thus he had to remove Joseph from his household. Joseph was then thrown into prison, but his faith continued to shine through. Joseph’s faith would eventually lead him before Pharaoh, where God had plans to use Joseph to not only save and establish Israel, but also the whole world in essence. Egypt was the strongest nation in the world at the time, and through God’s power, He revealed Pharaoh’s dream and guided Joseph to save Egypt from this great famine that would overtake them. Having done all this, Pharaoh recognized God because of Joseph. In Egypt, God chose Israel to be His children, although He would not establish them as a nation until they came to Sinai. God would then proceed to lead them out of captivity in Egypt.

Through Abraham’s grandson Jacob, the nation of Israel would slowly begin to take form. God would later establish twelve tribes of Israel represented by ten of Jacob’s sons and two of his grandsons through his son Joseph. Joseph was yet another good example of someone who exercised great faith. Here was a young man whom his own brothers despised. God had big plans for this young man, and through Joseph’s faith, God used him greatly. This becomes a testimony to those who look back at his life, that when a believer is willing to place their faith in God, He can use that person mightily. Joseph was cast into a pit, and then his own brothers sold him as a slave. God had not forgotten Joseph, but He placed him in the house of Potiphar. It is in Potiphar’s house that Joseph’s faith became such a credit to his testimony. Potiphar made Joseph, who was his slave, head over his household affairs. However, God continues to test our faith to make it stronger, and He allowed more tests to come upon Joseph. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but his faith helped him flee from sin and its temptation. Yet the test continued when, Potiphar had to live with his wife, and thus he had to remove Joseph from his household. Joseph was then thrown into prison, but his faith continued to shine through. Joseph’s faith would eventually lead him before Pharaoh, where God had plans to use Joseph to not only save and establish Israel, but also the whole world in essence. Egypt was the strongest nation in the world at the time, and through God’s power, He revealed Pharaoh’s dream and guided Joseph to save Egypt from this great famine that would overtake them. Having done all this, Pharaoh recognized God because of Joseph. In Egypt, God chose Israel to be His children, although He would not establish them as a nation until they came to Sinai. God would then proceed to lead them out of captivity in Egypt.