By Faith - Romans 4:13-25

Kenya Missions Meeting

Postponed to the 24th.

Romans 4:13-25

Romans 4:13–25 CSB

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified, because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Faith and Failure

What we read about in this section is that Abraham had faith and that his example of faith is an example to us.

We are supposed to read what what Paul is saying, we are supposed to understand that Abraham believing God was a big deal, we are supposed to understand that we are included in the promises, and then we are supposed to understand that the same way Abraham had faith and he was given a gift, we too are give the gift too. When we place our faith in Jesus and believe in Him who raised Him from the dead we are justified.

Romans 4:23–24 CSB

Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

This all seems pretty simple and it is. But we have a problem.

Everyone say we got a problem.

The story of Abraham in the Bible recounts multiple failures on the part of Abraham on his way to becoming the father of Issac and the father of us all. This does not mean he did not have faith but it means he was not perfect. Sometimes we think that faith means we have not fear or make no mistakes. But that is not true. Faith and fear usually sit right next to each other because faith is often action in the midst of fear.

Today I want us to look at Abraham’s four big mistakes so that we can learn from them and also so that we can understand that our mistakes do not count us out, because God is faithful and because it by God’s grace we are saved and included.

If we can understand that Abraham was not perfect and yet he is called faithful we can know there is hope for us.

Mistake #1 - Greener Pastures

The first mistake we see after Abraham receives the promise and call from God is that he left the land of Canaan also known as Israel.

Genesis 12:10 CSB

There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay there for a while because the famine in the land was severe.

There was a famine in the land so Abraham left. He went in search of food because He was hungry. We can think this is no big deal but this first mistake. This first act of not trusting in God’s provision will lead to the next two mistakes.

So often we do not understand how one act can have long term consequences and repercussions. But they often do. We do one thing that leads us to one place we shouldn’t be and then because we are where we should not be we end up going deeper down the rabbit hole.

The promise to Abraham was that he would inherit the land and that God would bless him. If God is the one who promises to bless you then He can bless when you when there is little and when there is a lot. God can bless you in a recession and God can bless you when there is abundance.

Psalm 50:10–12 CSB

for every animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine.

It is all His and He can do what He wants with it. Now this is not a promise that everyone will be blessed, unstressed, and at rest. But it is a statement that God owns it all. He has resources we cannot comprehend. I have seen miracle and provisions that have caught me of guard. Sometimes the miracle is that you have food, sometimes the miracle is that you are not hungry, and sometimes the miracle is you learn to worship hungry.

Philippians 4:11–13 CSB

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

The secret of contentment and the secret to having faith in difficult times is that Jesus gives you strength.

Abraham had not yet learned that God can provide in difficultly so he sought to satisfy himself the only way he knew how.

Our Application - God can provide if we wait on Him

Isaiah 40:31 CSB

but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.

We wait on Him, but even if we fail He does not give up on us.

Mistake #2 - Abraham hides the truth about his wife

Abraham is now where he shouldn’t be and this leads him to lie about his wife.

Genesis 12:12–13 CSB

When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live. Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.”

Now technically she was his half-sister as we will learn later on. But still the truth is she was also his wife. Before we start to judge too harshly we have to remember that we cannot impose later truths on older history. We have a tendency to look back at history sometimes and condemn people for things that were not a problem in their day or culture. I am not saying it was right but that is just what happened.

What Abraham failed at was being honorable and truthful. Where he failed was to protect his wife’s honor and keep her pure. He let Pharaoh take her. It was a half-truth that was a whole lie.

As far as mistakes go this one is huge.

God tells Abraham in back in 12:2 that He will make Abraham’s name great. More than anything else here I believe that Abraham’s great failure was he tarnished his name.

Proverbs 22:1 CSB

A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.

You only get one name and what you do, how you act, how you present yourself to the world tells them what your name is worth.

I once heard someone say:

When you put your name on something you are saying this represents me and the best of my ability.

It does not matter if it is a paper for school, a business proposal, or anything else. Your name is your identity and what you do with it tells people who you are and what your worth is. Abraham here, soiled the name God was trying to make great. God went on to restore Abraham’s name but it took time.

Our Application - Our name can be reclaimed

If we have made huge mistakes God is able to reclaim our name. He is able to wash it clean and make it something respectable again.

Mistake #3 - Taking Matters in their own hands

The hits just keep coming for Abraham and Sarah. The first mistake of going into Egypt and leaving the promised land led to the the Egypt incident. While there Sarah is given Hagar as a slave or servant. Sarah cannot have children so she tells Abraham to take Hagar and be with her.

Genesis 16:1–2 CSB

Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

Hagar conceives and gives birth to Ishmael. The hits just keep coming. This is not what God promised to Abraham, but in his desperation and impatience he does what seems right to him.

This is one of those mistakes that has long lasting impacts. Now in their time this was not all that uncommon. If a servant had a child by the ruler of the house the child would be considered an heir. The problem is two fold:

This was playing fast and loose with what God said.

Genesis 15:4 CSB

Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

God promised that He would have a son that was from his own body. It would be a son by blood and not adopted. Abraham figured “we have a practice for this so this must be how we do it.”

How many times have you or I taken matters into our own hands. We feel God leading us into something and because He has not done it yet we decide to help God along. But God does not need our help.

2. At no point in the story is God consulted.

Neither Abraham nor Sarah ask God what He thinks of this plan. We have a saying in my house, well really it is a question. We ask when we are trying to find the answer to something God said, “Whose Hands?” Is it something we are trying to build or accomplish with our hands or is it something that we have entrusted in God’s hands.

Now there is a time to act and a time to wait.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 CSB

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven:

Sometimes we are called to act and sometimes we are called to wait. To act too soon is disobedience. At no point did they come to God and ask what they should do.

Our Application - We learn to wait on the Lord

Psalm 27:14 CSB

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.

We have to learn to wait. We want answers. We want results. But we must learn to be patient and wait. Again maybe it is time to act or maybe it is time to wait. To get it right leads to life. To get it wrong leads to trouble.

You might be asking, how do I know if it is time to act or wait? Good question. I always tell people if you are walking with Jesus and trusting in Him. If you are leaning into the Holy Spirit then you will know by peace.

Isaiah 26:3 CSB

You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.

God gives perfect peace or shalom shalom to those who need it. When we are listening He speaks.

John 10:27 CSB

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

Mistake #4 - Repeat Offender

Abraham is now back in Canaan and he again is confronted with someone who finds his wife attractive.

Genesis 20:2 CSB

Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

Again, Abraham fails his wife and he fails his name. He choses fear instead of trusting God to protect. Remember, Faith and fear usually sit right next to each other because faith is often action in the midst of fear.

Abraham did not learn his lesson from before. Last time he was blessed with goods and received from his lie.

Often until we are held accountable we will continue the same actions.

A sign of maturity is that when we sin we hear God’s voice, feel His correction, or feel the nudge from that Holy Spirit that we have missed it and then repent. Repent just means to change direction. We were doing one thing and then we do an about face and turn it around. That is a sign of maturity. But before we get to a place of maturity we usually have to be called out on our bad behavior.

Genesis 20:9–10 CSB

Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said to him, “What have you done to us? How did I sin against you that you have brought such enormous guilt on me and on my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.” Abimelech also asked Abraham, “What made you do this?”

God comes to Abimelech and tells him that He Himself has kept Abimelech from sinning. Abimelech pleads his innocence and then he calls out Abraham. Abraham had to be called out for his behavior. He had to be told that he was wrong. To really understand this we need to understand the concept of shame and honor.

Abraham had brought dishonor or shame to his name and his reputation. He had once again denied the truth and almost allowed his wife to be defiled by his weakness. He shamed her and others. He had to be held accountable for his actions.

Abimelech calling Abraham out in front of people was done to shame him. He was doing what needed to be done so that Abraham would stop sinning. God used this man to shame his chosen one.

But God.

Tell your neighbor BUT GOD.

God did not end it here. He was not done with Abraham he just needed to learn a lesson. God then used Abraham to bless others and answered Abrahams prayer on their behalf.

Our Application - God allows shame and brings honor

First Abraham had to be shamed because he was not acting right. But God wanted to bring honor to him. He wanted his name to be great and He was going to do it even if it hurt Abraham in the process.

God does not leave us down. Sometimes we are disciplined for our good.

Hebrews 12:11 CSB

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

God wants you to shine. He wants you to be a witness of His glory, mercy, and blessing. So He might crush you a little bit but it is to bring you back around. It is so we will know God and have faith.

Romans 4:23–24 CSB

Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

If God can do everything He did through and for Abraham despite his failures and mishaps. Can He not do the same for you and me?