Bible Talks: Abraham the man of faith-Genesis 12:7

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God had promised Abraham that He would make of him a great nation and that He would make his name great. He would be the father of God’s earthly people. But he received an even greater promise when the Lord told him that “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Many New Testament scriptures shed further light on this promise, and Abraham is declared to be the father of all the faithful, Jew and Gentile alike. In Galatians 3:8,9,148And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:8‑9)
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14), we read: “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.... That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
In our chapter Abraham is a type of the Christian today. Called out of a land of idolatry and spiritual darkness, he was a child of God in a land where he was always a stranger and a sojourner. He had expectations that were very real to him, but which actually he enjoyed only in faith, knowing that to others coming after him these promises would be fulfilled. Thus he was listed among those who “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.... And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:13-1613These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13‑16).
We are told in 1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7), in confidence to cast all our care upon God, “for He careth for you.” Abraham experienced divine guidance and care when he walked with God, and the believer today will find the way marked out for him if his confidence is in God.
The believer too is called to walk through this world in faith as a stranger and pilgrim, taking no part in the affairs of the world around him, but seeking to bear a testimony that will honor his Saviour. The Christian who goes on in singleness of heart before the Lord will have no desire to be attached to this world, and he will feel no need of turning to it for comfort or entertainment. He has a better and more satisfying Object.
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,.. they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God.” 1 Peter 2:11,1211Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11‑12).
“And the Caananite was then in the land.” This would remind us that this world, which one day will be under the blessed reign of the Prince of Peace, is now occupied by those who are opposed to Him. But just as Abraham was not discouraged by the presence of these hostile nations, so the believer who would be faithful to his Lord will walk in separation from the people of the world around, knowing that God has given him a higher calling.
ML 02/07/1965