Trust Like Abraham

Introduction

Last time we spoke about how we all needed to put our trust in Adonai, and in the work that Yeshua did on the Cross. Each of us needs to trust in the provision and in the promise of Adonai in the same way that Abraham trusted Adonai.

Today we will look to see both the type of faith that Abraham demonstrated, and how we are called to demonstrate that same exact faith. What is this faith? It is trusting in Adonai, that He can raise the dead! Let’s read from: Rom. 4:13-25

Romans 4:13–25 TLV

For the promise to Abraham or to his seed—to become heir of the world—was not through law, but through the righteousness based on trust. For if those who are of the Torah are heirs, trust has become empty and the promise is made ineffective. For the Torah brings about wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there a violation. For this reason it depends on trust, so that the promise according to grace might be guaranteed to all the offspring—not only to those of the Torah but also to those of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”). He is our father in the sight of God in whom he trusted, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which does not exist. In hope beyond hope, he trusted that he would become the father of many nations according to what was spoken—“So shall your descendants be.” And without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body—as good as dead, since he was already a hundred years old—and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Yet he did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God. Rather, he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God has promised, He also is able to do. That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now not only for his sake was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake as well. It is credited to us as those who trust in Him who raised Yeshua our Lord from the dead. He was handed over for our transgressions and raised up for the sake of setting us right.

Promise to Abraham

Abraham was promised that he would be the “father of nations”, yet as we read last week, he still had no children. Even after 10 years of obedience, he had yet to see the beginning of his family.

Now in this sentence, Verses 13 to 15, Paul uses the word nomos or “law” four (4) times, but with several different meanings. Is Paul referring to the Torah in total (1st 5 books of Moses) or maybe just the legal portions of the Torah? Is Paul speaking of laws in general or maybe he is referring to legalism? All four of these are options. In the TLV, which we just read, we see that the translators used a general term “law” for the 1st and last, and the “Torah” for the middle two usages. David Stern translates it this way:

Complete Jewish Bible Chapter 4

13 For the promise to Avraham and his seed that he would inherit the world did not come through legalism but through the righteousness that trust produces. 14 For if the heirs are produced by legalism, then trust is pointless and the promise worthless. 15 For what law brings is punishment. But where there is no law, there is also no violation.

The ESV, instead of speaking of the “heirs produced by legalism”, uses the phrase “the adherents of the law.” Regardless, we see that, just as Paul had said in vs. 12, he now repeats. It is not enough to legalistically adhere to the commands of Adonai, there must first be a faith and trust in Adonai.

Why based on trust?

Why is acceptance before Adonai based upon Trust? Well it levels the playing field. Whether you grew up as a Jewish person under the Torah, or grew up as a Gentile without any family background of belief in God, both Jewish people and Gentiles come to God in the same way. We all need to have the faith and trust that Abraham demonstrated. This is so that our being forgiven is based upon the Grace of Adonai, and not upon our own abilities.

And because of this, we can all call Abraham our Father. Abraham is the father of the Jewish people through Isaac and Jacob, but he is also the father of Gentiles who, as Abraham did, leave behind their former life and gods, and turn to Adonai.

Avraham Avinu

In his commentary, David Stern quotes from Rambam’s “Letter to Ovadyad the Proselyte”. Listen to this, all have done is replace the term “convert to Judaism” with “Gentile follower of Yeshua”.

The Jewish New Testament Commentary Romans, Chapter 4

“You ask me if you are permitted to say in the prayers, ‘God of

So as can be seen here, it is fully understood from the Hebrew Scriptures, that Gentiles are accepted by Adonai and are children of Abraham according to faith.

What was the faith of Abraham?

Paul gets very specific and points out that the faith of Abraham was demonstrated in several ways.

Firstly, Abraham believed in a miraculous birth. He believed that Adonai was able to cause his wife Sarah to give birth, even though by natural standards, she was not able to give birth. Abraham trusted that Adonai would be able to bring his son into the world. We see this in Heb. 11:11-12

Hebrews 11:11–12 TLV

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive when she was barren and past the age, since she considered the One who had made the promise to be faithful. So from one—and him as good as dead—were fathered offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and as uncountable as the sand on the seashore.

Secondly, Abraham trusted that Adonai was able to bring Isaac back from the dead. This second point is clearly seen in Heb. 11:17-19

Hebrews 11:17–19 TLV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had received the promises was offering up his one and only son— the one about whom it was said, “Through Isaac offspring shall be named for you.” He reasoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead—and in a sense, he did receive him back from there.

This passage in the New Covenant points back to Akedah, the binding of Isaac in Gen 22:1-18

Genesis 22:1–18 TLV

Now it was after these things that God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham.” “Hineni,” he said. Then He said, “Take your son, your only son whom you love —Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains about which I will tell you.” So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split wood for the burnt offering, and got up and went to the place about which God had told him. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, “Sit yourselves down here with the donkey. As for me and the young man, we’ll go over there, worship and return to you.” Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on Isaac his son. In his hand he took the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Then Isaac said to Abraham his father, “My father?” Then he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Look. Here’s the fire and the wood. But where’s the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” The two of them walked on together. Then they came to the place about which God had told him, and Abraham built the altar there, laid out the wood, bound up Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of Adonai called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” He said, “Hineni!” Then He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the young man—do nothing to him at all. For now I know that you are one who fears God—you did not withhold your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and behold, there was a ram, just caught in the thick bushes by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham named that place, Adonai Yireh,—as it is said today, “On the mountain, Adonai will provide.” The angel of Adonai called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I swear—it is a declaration of Adonai—because you have done this thing, and you did not withhold your son, your only son, I will richly bless you and bountifully multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and like the sand that is on the seashore, and your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed—because you obeyed My voice.”

There is so much to unpack from these passages.

Application

We are called to have the same faith as Avraham Avinu.

We are also called to believed in a miraculous birth, the birth of Yeshua from a virgin. To man this is impossible, but to Adonai, it is no different than Sarah giving birth, when she was past Menopause.

We also are called to believe that Adonai is able to bring His son, Yeshua HaMashiach, into the world. Is it too difficult for us to believe that Adonai is able to come to Earth, while at the same time remaining enthroned in heaven, and at the same time having his Ruach fill the entire universe?

We are also called to believe in the resurrection from the dead. Abraham believed that Adonai was able to resurrect Isaac, because Adonai had promised that “in Isaac your seed shall be called.” Now Isaac would have been around 30 years old (we find this from the beginning of the next chapter in Genesis). So this was just as much a test of the faith of Isaac as it was a test of Abraham. But we also are called to believe in the resurrection from the dead as Paul writes in Rom. 4:23-25

Romans 4:23–25 TLV

Now not only for his sake was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake as well. It is credited to us as those who trust in Him who raised Yeshua our Lord from the dead. He was handed over for our transgressions and raised up for the sake of setting us right.

You see, Paul is pointing out that just like Abraham, we are also called to believe and trust in Adonai concerning the resurrection from the dead. This is why Paul says in 1 Cor 15:12-20

1 Corinthians 15:12–20 TLV

Now if Messiah is proclaimed—that He has been raised from the dead—how can some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Messiah has been raised! And if Messiah has not been raised, then our proclaiming is meaningless and your faith also is meaningless. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that He raised up Messiah—whom He did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Messiah has been raised. And if Messiah has not been raised, your faith is futile—you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Messiah have perished. If we have hoped in Messiah in this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all people. But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

But there is more in the Akedah that is relevant to what Paul is writing.

Who was it that stopped Abraham’s hand from killing Isaac? We see it in Gen.22:11

Genesis 22:11 TLV

But the angel of Adonai called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” He said, “Hineni!”

Who is this angel of Adonai claiming to be? Let’s re-read Gen 22:15-18

Genesis 22:15–18 TLV

The angel of Adonai called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I swear—it is a declaration of Adonai—because you have done this thing, and you did not withhold your son, your only son, I will richly bless you and bountifully multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and like the sand that is on the seashore, and your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed—because you obeyed My voice.”

Who is this? This person in bodily form, is declaring that he speaks the words of Adonai, that Abraham was obeying HIS voice, and that he would richly bless Abraham! Who is this one?

It is none other than Adonai come in human form, it is no other than a pre-incarnate Yeshua!

Think about it. Here is Yeshua telling Abraham to offer his only son, on the mountains of Moriah (mountains that were in the same mountain range as Jeru-Salem. Here is Yeshua providing a lamb as a substitute, and stopping the knife from killing Isaac. And Here is Yeshua promising that He would bless Abraham, multiply Abraham, and cause Abraham to possess the gates of his enemies.

And about 2000 years later, Yeshua would carry the wood of the cross, just like Isaac, over the same mountains, just like Isaac, but this time the knife would not be stopped!

When Abraham “lifted up his eyes and behold there was a ram” caught in the thicket, I wonder if he was shown by Adonai the entire story of history laid out? Abraham ends up calling that place, ADONAI Yireh, and why? Because: Genesis 22:14 “On the mountain, Adonai will provide.””

Did Adonai provide on that mountain? Did he provide not only the Ram but also the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”

This is why I said last week:

We all need to put our trust in Adonai, and in the work that Yeshua did on the Cross. Yeshua paid our penalty so that the just requirement of the Torah could be fulfilled. We now need to trust in that provision, and in the promise of Adonai in the same way that Abraham trusted Adonai.

Let us thank God for all that he has done and put our trust in the sacrifice that He made on our behalf.