Faith of Abraham Part 3

Faith of Abraham - Part 3

Genesis 12:10

On Sunday evenings we have been looking at the 'Faith of Abraham'.

Tonight we want to continue our study by looking at the tests of Abraham's faith.

Someone said, "A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted."

Peter compared the testing of a believer's faith with gold that is tried in the refining fires.

God's purpose in allowing trials is not only to verify our faith, but also to purify it.

In school we took tests to prove our grasp of a certain block of information.

God tests our faith to prove it, that we may see what kind of faith we have.

God used three special tests to test Abraham's and He uses the same tests for us today.

There is the test of circumstances, the test of people, and the test of things.

I. Test of Circumstances. cf 12: 10

A. Abraham's Test of Circumstances.

1. God had called Abraham to leave his country and his family to travel to a new land.

2. On at least two occasions God spoken directly to Abraham to confirm His promises to him.

3. Now they were in the land of Canaan, they were ready to settle down and enjoy their new home.

4. Most likely they thought their journey was complete, but God was just beginning with them.

5. God allowed a famine in the land and Abraham was faced with finding food for his large company of people (he had 318 trained servants) plus his flocks and herds of animals.

6. Instead of remaining in the land and trusting God to help him, Abraham went "down into Egypt".

7. Egypt is a type of the world; rather than seeking God in this trial,

Abraham tried to run away from the problem and looked to the world for help.

B. Our Test of Circumstances.

1. God uses the tough circumstances of life to build the muscles of our faith.

2. As our faith is increased, we will trust His Word rather than men.

3. We will face our problems with Him rather than running from them.

4. Stay where we are until God directs us to move.

5. In times of testing our question should not be "How can I get out of this?" but "What can I get out of this?"

6. God is at work building our faith; He is in control of the circumstances. 7. Abraham failed this first test of faith.

II. Test of People. cf 12:11 -13:4

A. In Egypt, Abraham faced a whole new set of problems.

1. When we run from one problem, it won't be long until we are faced with another.

2. In Canaan all Abraham had to deal with was famine, but in Egypt there was a pharaoh who was considered a god.

3. We will never move away from God without having it affect us.

B. Abraham changed in a number of ways.

1. He moved from trusting to scheming.v11-13

a. There was no altar in Egypt.

b. Abraham did not call upon the Lord for direction and guidance.

c. He resorted to his own wisdom and that will always lead to trouble.

d. He plans to deceive the Egyptians concerning his relationship with Sarah.

e. Remember that this was a preconceived plan that he had made before leaving Ur.

(Genesis 20:13) And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

2. He moved from confidence to fear.

a. When we are in God's place we never have to fear.

b. But when we are where we shouldn't be, we have reason to be fearful.

c. God had repeatedly said, I will..." but now Abraham was saying, "They will..."'

d. He was more concerned about himself that he was about his wife!

e. He took his eyes off the Lord and started looking at people.

3. He moved from bringing blessing to bringing judgment. cf v 14-20

a. God called Abraham to be a blessing to the nations.

b. However, he was cause for judgment upon Pharaoh and his household.

c. Jonah ran from God and caused a ship to nearly sink because of his disobedience.

d. Many of Lot's family were destroyed because he chose to dwell in Sodom.

e. When we disobey God we bring judgment upon those around us.

4. Someone might look at this situation and think that Abraham did all right because he gained much wealth from Pharaoh.

5. But everything he received in Egypt later caused him trouble! cf 13:1-4

a. Because of their great wealth, Abraham and Lot could not live together and had to separate.

b. Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant, brought division and sorrow into the home.

c. Having had a taste of Egypt (the world), Lot started measuring everything by what he had seen there. cf 13:10-11

6. Abraham failed the second test of his faith also, but he went back where he belonged and once again began to call upon the name of the Lord.

III. Test of Things. cf 13:5?18

A. Abraham determined to be a peacemaker and not a trouble-maker. v5-8

1. The heart of every problem is the "heart".

2. Lot's heart was still centered on the world and what it had to offer. v 10

3. Abraham had gotten his heart right with God when he returned to the place of God's blessings.

4. They were no longer able to walk together because they were headed in opposite directions.

B. Abraham lived for others and not self. v9

1. Previously, Abraham had first thought of himself in concern for his safety.

2. After his return to Canaan!, he put God first, others second, and himself last.

3. Abraham could have "pulled rank" on Lot and told him what he would do, but he chose to let Lot make the decision.

C. Abraham lived by faith, not by sight.

1. When God is first in your life, it makes no difference who is second or last.

2. Lot had a tent but no altar.

3. The eyes see what the heart loves.

4. Abraham had taken Lot out of Egypt,, but he couldn't take Egypt out of Lot.

5. Lot chose the land that was "'like the land of Egypt".

D. Abraham let God choose for him. v14?18

1. Abraham had another meeting with God.

2. Lot had lifted up his eyes to see what he wanted for himself, now God lifts up Abraham's eyes to see what God wanted for him.

3. God told Abraham to lift up his feet and walk or claim what He had given him.

4. Our faith in God determines how much of His blessing we will enjoy.

5. Abraham failed his first two tests, but he passed his third one with flying colors!

6. Chapter 13 begins with his return to Canaan and to God; it ends with him continuing to walk by faith.

How will we pass our tests of faith?

Like Abraham we will face similar tests along our walk.

We will be challenged by circumstances, people, and things.

How we respond will either strengthen or weaken our faith.