Chapter 11—Abraham, the Father of All Believers
This chapter is based on
Genesis 12
.
After Babel, idolatry again became well-nigh universal, and the
Lord finally left the hardened transgressors to follow their evil ways,
while He chose Abraham of the line of Shem and made him the keeper
of His law for future generations. God has ever preserved a remnant to
preserve the precious revealings of His will. The son of Terah became
the inheritor of this holy trust. Uncorrupted by the prevailing apostasy,
he steadfastly adhered to the worship of God. The Lord communicated
His will to Abraham and gave him a knowledge of His law and of
salvation through Christ.
There was given to Abraham the promise, “I will make of thee a
great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou
shalt be a blessing.” To this was added the assurance that of his line
the Redeemer of the world should come: “In thee shall all families of
the earth be blessed.” Yet, as the first condition of fulfillment, there
was to be a test of faith; a sacrifice was demanded.
The message of God came to Abraham, “Get thee out of thy coun-
try, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that
I will show thee.” Abraham must be separated from the influence of
kindred and friends. His character must be peculiar, differing from all
the world. He could not even explain his action so as to be understood
by his friends. His motives were not comprehended by his idolatrous
kindred.
Abraham’s unquestioning obedience is one of the most striking
[75]
evidences of faith in all the Bible. See
Hebrews 11:8
. Relying upon
the divine promise, he abandoned home and kindred and native land
and went forth to follow where God should lead. “By faith he became
a sojourner in the land of promise as in a land not his own, dwelling in
tents, with Isaac and Jacob.”
Hebrews 11:9
.
There were strong ties to bind him to his country, his kindred, and
his home. But he did not hesitate to obey the call. He had no question
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