[Biblemat] A) ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Friday morn-
ing to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.  Here
is an article from my files:

ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE

     Have you considered what God said to Abraham and how
Abraham responded?  God told Abraham to leave his native
land and to go to a land that God would show him.  Abraham
obeyed (Gen. 12:1-9; Heb. 11:8).  God told him to look in all
directions in that land and to walk in it through its length and
width, "for", He said, "I give it to you."  Abraham believed what God told 
him, and he built altars to the Lord in the plac-
es where he sojourned (Gen. 13:14-18; 12:7,8).  God told
Abraham that his descendants would be as the stars of heav-
en in number.  Abraham "believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for 
righteousness" (Gen. 15:1-3).  Abra-
ham was childless and growing old, yet he believed in the pro-
mises of the Lord.  God even gave Abraham a sign to assure
His promise of Abraham's possessing the land (Gen. 15:7-21),
a promise that would not be realized until the fourth generat-
ion.

     God repeated His promises and made a covenant with Abraham with this 
condition: "Walk before Me and be blame-
less" (Gen. 17:1-9).  Circumcision was given as a sign of the
covenant between God and Abraham, and Abraham and all
of his males were circumcised that very day (Gen. 17:23-27).
God had confidence in Abraham's continued obedience -- the
basis of the covenant.  "For I have known him, in order that
he may command his children and his household after him,
that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and
justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has
spoken to him" (Gen. 18:19).

     A great test of Abraham's faith was given in command to
take Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering (Gen. 22:1,2).
Abraham rose early in the morning and set out to do as he
was commanded.  He did not falter, even though all human
reasoning would cry out against his taking the life of his heir.
He believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead, if nec-
essary (Heb. 11:17-19).  Now hear God's word to Abraham:
"By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have
done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only
son -- blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply
your descendants as the stars of the heaven...In your seed
all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My 
voice" (Gen. 22:16-18).

     "Do you see how faith worked with his works, and by his
works his faith was made complete?" (Jas. 2:21-24).

     Hence, Abraham was justified when he by faith obeyed
God.  What is your state before God?   ---- Gilbert Alexander
via, Gospel Power, Vol. 13, No. 48, Nov. 26, 2006.
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