Father Abraham
February 6, 2025 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
I grew up going to church as a child. Much like Oak Hills, the children were dismissed in the middle of the service in order to attend children’s church. We sang songs, heard a Bible story, and did some sort of craft. I have fond memories of the time. But there was one song that confused me as a child, Father Abraham. Perhaps you recall the lyrics:
Father Abraham had many sons,
Many sons had Father Abraham.
And I am one of them
And so are you.
So, let’s just praise the Lord!
Right arm! (Left arm; Right foot; left foot…)
I had so many questions as a child singing this song. Who was Abraham? How could I be his son (I knew who my dad was)? Why are the women and girls singing this; they cannot be sons? Why should we praise God for this news? And what are we doing with our arms and legs?
It wasn’t until I was much older that I found answers to these burning questions. The core truth springs from Paul’s teaching on Abraham in Romans 4. He is explaining the foundational truth that we are justified by faith alone, not by works. He turns to Abraham as the example. Paul asks the question of when was Abraham justified by faith, when was his faith counted as righteousness. Paul writes, “How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised” (Rom. 4:1-12).
God called Abraham out of idolatry (see Josh. 24:2) by his grace. Abraham responded in faith; God counted that faith as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). Abraham’s work of circumcision came after this declaration (Gen. 17). This is God’s pattern of salvation: 1. Effectual grace. 2. Responsive faith. 3. Justification by faith. 4. Growth in holiness/works (sanctification). And Paul explains that God set forth this pattern in Abraham to “make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised.” Abraham is a spiritual father in that he is a forerunner of all who will come to be saved by faith alone.
Paul also says that we “walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had.” Let me draw out those “footsteps of the faith.”
- True Faith is Grateful. Abraham did nothing to deserve the call and promises of God. All the blessings he enjoyed were by the grace of God. The only proper response is gratitude. Abraham expressed his gratitude through building altars of worship to God and giving a tithe of the spoils from war. Without humble gratitude, we are not walking in the footsteps of the faith Abraham had.
- True Faith Clings to Promises. In Genesis 15, God brings Abraham out to survey the night sky. God tells him that his offspring (you and me!) will be as numerous as the stars, even when Abraham had no child. But Abraham believed God. The writer of Hebrews says that Abraham “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). Abraham was clinging to the promises of God, and not to the things of this world. Without clinging to the promises of God, we are not walking in the footsteps of the faith Abraham had.
- True Faith Grows in Holiness. Abraham was no perfect saint. He lied about his wife to save his own skin (twice!). He took a concubine in order to have a son. He did not lead his house well. And yet, God continued to seek him; and Abraham responded in faith. By the time God asks him to sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham had a long journey following God through ups and downs (40 years after the initial call?). The text simply says that God commanded Abraham, and Abraham obeyed. The greatest of tests came after years of walking in faith and growing in holiness. I am not sure if Abraham would have been so faithful to obey if this test came earlier in his life. This test shows that his faith treasured and trusted in God even above his son. Without growing in holiness, we are not walking in the footsteps of the faith Abraham had.
If you have faith in the promises of God, specifically the gift of salvation through the death of Christ, Abraham is your father. So let’s just praise the Lord!
