Faith brings us on (v. 9). The life of faith must never stand still, for if your feet are going, your faith is growing. Note the verbs used to describe Abraham’s life: departed (12:4), went forth (12:5), passed through (12:6), removed (12:8), and journeyed (12:9). God kept Abraham moving so that he would meet new challenges and be forced to trust God for new “grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Comfortable Christianity is opposite from the life of faith, for “pilgrims and strangers” must face new circumstances if they are to gain new insights about themselves and their Lord. “Let us press on to maturity” is the challenge (6:1 nasb).
How did Abraham know where to go and what to do? He “called upon the name of the Lord” (Gen. 12:8). He prayed to the Lord, and the Lord helped him. Abraham’s pagan neighbors saw that he had an altar but no idols. He had no “sacred places” but built his altar to God wherever he pitched his tent. You could trace Abraham’s steps by the altars he left behind. He was not ashamed to worship God openly while his heathen neighbors watched him.
In the pilgrim life, you must go “from faith to faith” (Rom. 1:17) if you would go “from strength to strength” (Ps. 84:7). G. A. Studdert Kennedy said, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; it is obeying in spite of consequence.” “By faith Abraham … obeyed” (Heb. 11:8). Faith without obedience is dead (James 2:14-26), and action without faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). God has wedded faith and obedience like the two sides of a coin; they go together.
This does not mean that sinners are saved by faith plus works, because Scripture declares that sinners are saved by faith alone (John 3:16-18; Eph. 2:8-9). Dr. H. A. Ironside, longtime pastor of Chicago’s Moody Church, was told by a woman that she expected to get to heaven by faith plus her good works. “It’s like rowing a boat,” she explained. “It takes two oars to row a boat; otherwise you go around in a circle.”
Dr. Ironside replied, “That’s a good illustration except for one thing: I’m not going to heaven in a rowboat!”
The faith that saves is the faith that proves itself in good works (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 2:14; 3:8, 14). Abraham was saved by faith (Heb. 11:8; Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:1-5), but his faith was made evident by his obedience (James 2:21-24).
Abraham is now in the place of God’s appointment, doing what God told him to do. But this is not the end–it is the beginning! Even in the place of obedience you will face tests and trials, for that is how faith grows. But the same Lord who brought you out, brought you in, and brought you on in your pilgrim journey will also bring you through if you follow Him by faith.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
- Why did God call Abraham?
- Wiersbe speaks of “obedient faith.” Why do these two words go together? Is it possible to have disobedient faith? Explain.
- True faith is based on God’s promises. What did God promise Abraham?
- What are some promises God has given us?
- What was wrong with Abraham’s decision to take his father and his nephew with him on his journey out of Ur?
- How did Abraham show that he trusted God?
- What does Abraham’s response to God teach us about faith?
- In what areas of your life do you need more faith in God?
- How can you build up your faith?