Abraham: A Journey of Faith and Trust in God

Aug 24, 2014

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God Over Idols and Human Abilities

The central challenge for every person is whether to place ultimate trust in God or in the many substitutes that vie for our allegiance—be they material things, personal abilities, or the intellect itself. Idolatry is not merely an ancient practice of bowing to statues, but a present reality whenever anything other than God becomes the foundation of our security, meaning, or hope. In a world that prizes self-sufficiency and the power of the mind, it is easy to subtly shift our trust from God to our own reasoning or achievements, relegating God to the margins of our lives. True faith, however, is marked by a daily, conscious decision to trust God above all else, using our gifts and intellect in service to Him rather than as replacements for Him. [25:14]

1 John 5:21 (ESV)
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to trust your own abilities or resources more than God, and how can you intentionally shift your trust to Him today?

Day 2: The Foundation of Faith—Hearing and Trusting God’s Word

From the very beginning, the story of humanity has revolved around the question of whether we will trust the Word of God. Creation itself was brought forth by God’s speech, and human life at its highest is defined by a relationship with God through His Word. The temptation in Eden began with the question, “Has God said?”—a question that continues to undermine faith today. The enemy’s primary strategy is to erode our confidence in God’s Word, knowing that trust in what God has spoken is the foundation for a life of faith. The challenge is to let God’s Word saturate our minds and hearts, so that our lives are built on the unshakeable foundation of His truth. [23:30]

Genesis 3:1-4 (ESV)
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God actually say, "You shall not eat of any tree in the garden"?' And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die."' But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die.'"

Reflection: How much time do you spend each day letting God’s Word shape your thoughts and decisions, and what practical step can you take to deepen your engagement with Scripture this week?

Day 3: True Inheritance—Becoming Heirs Through Faith

Being a child of Abraham is not a matter of physical descent, but of sharing in his faith. God’s promise to Abraham was that he would be the father of many nations, and that all who trust in Christ are counted as his true offspring and legal heirs according to the promise. This inheritance is not merely a theological concept, but a living reality that shapes our identity and destiny. To be an heir of Abraham means to be written into God’s will, to receive the blessings promised to those who trust Him, and to live with the assurance that our significance and future are secure in Christ. [12:18]

Galatians 3:26-29 (ESV)
"For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise."

Reflection: What does it mean to you personally to be an heir of God’s promise, and how might this truth change the way you view your worth and purpose today?

Day 4: Seeking Significance—Letting God Make Your Name Great

Humanity’s age-old quest is to make a name for itself, to find meaning and significance through achievement, recognition, or power. The story of Babel is a warning against seeking greatness apart from God, while Abraham’s call is an invitation to receive significance as a gift from God rather than as something to be grasped. The true foundation of a meaningful life is not in building our own towers, but in trusting God to establish our identity and purpose. When we allow God to define our significance, we are freed from the endless competition and comparison that so often mark human relationships, and we find rest in His promise to make our name great in His way and time. [39:58]

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV)
"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'"

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to seek significance or recognition apart from God, and how can you surrender your desire for greatness to Him today?

Day 5: Living for the City with Foundations—A Vision Beyond This World

The Bible presents a tale of two cities: the city built on human pride and achievement, and the city whose foundations are laid by God. Abraham was called to leave the security and ideology of Babel and to live as a pilgrim, looking forward to the city with foundations, whose designer and builder is God. This vision calls us to examine not just where we live, but what we live for. Are we building our lives on the shifting sands of human ambition, or are we orienting our lives toward the eternal city God has prepared? To live for God’s city is to organize our lives around the foundational principle of trusting Him, shaping our ambitions, relationships, and work in light of His promises and purposes. [43:49]

Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16 (ESV)
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God... These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."

Reflection: What would it look like for you to live today with your eyes fixed on the city with foundations, and how might this perspective reshape your ambitions and daily choices?

Sermon Summary

Abraham stands as a monumental figure in the story of faith, not only as a physical ancestor to many but as a spiritual pioneer whose journey with God sets the pattern for all who would follow. Unlike Joseph and Daniel, who rose to power within empires, Abraham’s calling was to leave behind the security and familiarity of his homeland and to live as a pilgrim, learning to trust God in the unknown. This movement—from the world, through the wilderness, and ultimately back into the world with a transformed heart—reveals a spiritual logic: before one can be a witness in the world, the world must be taken out of the heart. Abraham’s life is a testament to the reality that faith is not merely a private matter but a public journey, rooted in history and anchored in God’s promises.

The significance of Abraham is not just in his story, but in what it means for all who trust in Christ. The New Testament makes clear that true descendants of Abraham are not defined by bloodline but by faith. To be “in Christ” is to be counted as Abraham’s offspring, heirs to the promises God made to him. This inheritance is not a dry legal matter but a living reality, inviting each believer to explore what it means to be written into God’s will, to share in the blessings and responsibilities that come with being part of God’s redemptive plan.

Genesis, the book that frames Abraham’s story, is not just a record of beginnings but a profound exploration of what is foundational in life: God, creation, humanity, sin, judgment, and redemption. The early chapters reveal the glory of creation, the tragedy of the fall, and the devastation of judgment, culminating in God’s gracious call to Abraham to begin anew. The central issue, from Eden to Babel to Abraham, is trust—will we trust God’s word, or will we seek meaning, security, and significance on our own terms?

The story of Babel, with its tower reaching for the heavens, is a powerful picture of humanity’s quest for significance apart from God. The drive to “make a name” for ourselves through achievement, technology, or intellect is as alive today as it was then. Yet, God’s promise to Abraham is the antidote: “I will make your name great.” The choice is stark—will we strive to build our own legacy, or will we allow God to define our significance? The city of Babel and the city of God stand as two competing visions, not just of where we live, but of what we live for. Abraham’s journey invites us to build our lives on the foundation of trusting God, to seek a city whose architect and builder is God, and to find our true meaning in Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith is a public journey rooted in history, not a private philosophy. Abraham’s life demonstrates that God’s call often requires leaving behind comfort and security to step into the unknown, trusting in His promises. This journey is not just for personal benefit but for the sake of blessing the world, as God’s redemptive plan unfolds through those who trust Him. [03:00]
2. True inheritance in God’s kingdom is not based on physical descent or religious ritual, but on faith. To be a child of Abraham is to trust God as he did, receiving righteousness and belonging through faith in Christ. This challenges us to examine where we place our ultimate trust and to embrace the profound reality of being heirs to God’s promises. [08:19]
3. The foundational issue in all of life is trust—specifically, whether we will trust God’s word or substitute something else in its place. Idolatry, whether ancient or modern, is ultimately about misplaced trust, whether in power, intellect, or human achievement. The subtle temptation, especially for the educated or accomplished, is to trust our own minds and use God as a backup, rather than trusting God and using our minds in service to Him. [25:14]
4. The story of Babel exposes the human drive to create meaning and significance apart from God, often through technological or cultural achievement. The desire to “make a name” for ourselves is deeply ingrained, but it leads to confusion and fragmentation when divorced from God’s purposes. God’s promise to Abraham—to make his name great—invites us to find our significance not in self-made towers, but in God’s gracious calling and purpose. [39:17]
5. The Bible presents a tale of two cities: Babel, built on human pride and self-sufficiency, and the city of God, built on trust in Him. The question is not which city we live in, but which city we live for. Abraham’s example calls us to seek a city with foundations—God’s foundations—and to organize our lives around trusting Him, rather than the shifting ideologies of the world. [43:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:49] - Memories of Preaching in Poland
[02:05] - Joseph, Daniel, and the Challenge of Public Faith
[03:00] - Introducing Abraham: The Pioneer of Faith
[04:50] - Abraham’s Call and Spiritual Logic
[06:23] - Jesus: The Seed of Abraham
[07:11] - The Historical and Spiritual Lineage of Abraham
[08:19] - Faith, Justification, and True Offspring
[09:49] - A Conversation on Being a Child of Abraham
[12:18] - The Legal Language of Inheritance
[14:17] - The Structure and Themes of Genesis
[16:21] - Creation, Speech, and Human Dignity
[18:21] - Creation, Fall, and Judgment
[20:40] - Genesis as Anthropology and Moral Ambiguity
[22:21] - The Centrality of Trust in God
[25:14] - Idolatry: Ancient and Modern
[29:57] - The Danger of Intellectual Idolatry
[31:20] - Babel: The Birth of Secular Power
[33:30] - The Search for Meaning and Human Achievement
[36:03] - God’s Response to Babel’s Ambition
[39:17] - God’s Promise: Making Abraham’s Name Great
[41:42] - The City of God vs. The City of Man
[43:49] - Foundations: Ideology and Trust

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Journey of Abraham and the Foundations of Faith

Bible Reading

Genesis 12:1-4

The call of Abram: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing...’”

Romans 4:1-5, 13-16

Paul explains that Abraham was justified by faith, not by works or ritual, and that all who have faith are his true descendants.

Hebrews 11:8-10

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going... For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Observation Questions

What did God ask Abraham to leave behind, and what did He promise in return? (Genesis 12:1-3)
According to Romans 4, on what basis was Abraham counted as righteous? Was it before or after he was circumcised? ([08:19])
In Hebrews 11, what was Abraham looking forward to, and how is this different from the city of Babel? ([41:42])
In the story of Babel, what was the motivation behind building the tower, and how did God respond? ([32:37])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God required Abraham to leave his homeland and live as a pilgrim, rather than rise to power like Joseph or Daniel? What spiritual lesson is being taught through this? ([04:50])
The sermon says, “before one can be a witness in the world, the world must be taken out of the heart.” What does this mean in the context of Abraham’s journey? ([04:50])
How does the story of Babel illustrate humanity’s search for meaning and significance apart from God? In what ways does this temptation show up in our culture today? ([33:30])
What does it mean to be an heir of Abraham “according to the promise” and not by physical descent? How does this shape our understanding of faith and belonging? ([08:19])

Application Questions

Abraham’s journey required him to leave comfort and security behind. Is there something in your life that God might be calling you to leave or let go of in order to trust Him more fully? What would it look like to take that step? ([03:00])
The sermon challenges us to examine where we place our ultimate trust. Are there “idols” in your life—such as career, intellect, or achievement—that you tend to trust more than God? How can you begin to shift your trust back to Him? ([25:14])
The desire to “make a name” for ourselves is deeply ingrained. In what ways do you find yourself striving for recognition or significance apart from God? How does God’s promise to Abraham challenge or encourage you in this area? ([39:17])
The Bible presents a tale of two cities: Babel (built on pride and self-sufficiency) and the city of God (built on trust in Him). Which city are you living for? What practical steps can you take to organize your life more around trusting God’s foundations? ([43:49])
The sermon warns about the subtle temptation, especially for the educated, to trust our own minds and use God as a backup. How do you see this tendency in your own life? What would it look like to trust God first and use your mind in service to Him? ([29:57])
Abraham’s faith was public and rooted in history, not just a private matter. How can you make your faith more visible in your daily life, workplace, or community? ([03:00])
The idea of being “written into God’s will” as an heir is described as a living reality. How does this truth affect the way you see your identity and purpose? ([12:18])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you trust Him more deeply, to let go of anything that competes for your trust, and to find your true significance in His promises, just as Abraham did.

Sermon Clips

“And one of the lessons we learned from Daniel was that he did not simply maintain his devotion to God privately. He maintained his public witness to the very end of his life. And we saw that as an immense challenge for us in an age where the pressure to privatize faith is increasing every day.”

“God calls the man Abram out from the Mesopotamian culture to live as a pilgrim, so that he can learn the fundamental lessons of what it means to trust God. He is the paradigm of faith in God. But then, as the centuries roll, God will choose people out of his descendants who've learned those lessons to go back into the secular city to witness for him.”

“Christianity is not a mere philosophy. Anybody with enough brains can think up a philosophy, but they cannot think up history. And Christianity is firmly anchored in historical events, and in particular is geared and linked with the history of Abraham and his descendants.”

“It's obvious, isn't it, that being one of Abraham's true offspring is more than being physically descended from him. Listen to one of the key statements of justification by faith in Romans 4. We say that Abraham's faith, that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.”

“God has chosen that anybody who trusts God like Abram did is counted a child of Abram, of Abraham.”

“You and I, if we trust Christ, are legal heirs of Abraham. What does that mean? Have you thought about what it actually means? We'll have to explore it. Because if I'm a legal heir of a man who's put a massive footprint on history, I'd better find out exactly what that means.”

“The first section teaches us about the nature of God, about the status of the universe, about the status of human beings. And the major emphasis is that God speaks, and he organizes and creates the universe by a speech act, and God said, which is an unpacking of John 1 verse 1, in the beginning was the Word.”

“We learn that human beings are uniquely dignified by the status of being capable of understanding the speech of God. And the book of Genesis is going to unpack that, and particularly the story of Abram, as God speaks to him and reveals himself to him.”

“The key issue is, are humans going to trust the Word of God or not? And that is going to be the major topic of Genesis.”

“Genesis does not simply show us what is first in time, but what is first in importance when it comes to understanding fundamental things. God, the universe, life. language, morality, relationships, sin, death, faith, salvation, judgment.”

“Since sin entered the world through human failure to trust God and grasping at independence of God, the way back to God will involve learning to trust him and his word.”

“If flawed men and women, like the three great patriarchs, and Abram in particular, can learn to trust God, then there's some hope for the rest of us.”

“The biggest issue we face, the biggest pressure on us, is to undermine our confidence in God and his word. That's number one. And the enemy will do anything he can to trip you up morally, but he'll do everything everything he can to undermine your confidence in the Word of God and His truth.”

“Idols form that category of things that we trust rather than God. They can be things we love. Though many in the ancient world feared their idols, the key thing is it has to do with trust. And so it has to do with the central message of Abraham's life.”

“The gods of the ancient Near East were descended from the heavens and the earth. The God of the Bible created the heavens and the earth. That's the vast difference.”

“The principal first attack on humanity was this: has God said? has God said? that's the attack that's where it comes if God can get you if the enemy can get you to ask that question has God said you're well in the way to losing your compass.”

“Christianity is when I trust God and use my mind. There's a vast world of difference and there's a temptation for us especially if we've been given those kind of gifts to subtly and increasingly trust our mind our arguments our abilities and God gets crammed into a corner.”

“Either I'm trying to make my own name great, or I'm allowing God to make my name great. Where do I generate significance? Is meaning something only we and we alone can do? create is Babel thought. Abram's called to trust God for meaning.”

“There's nothing wrong with using your mind. using the mind and trusting God there's everything wrong but trusting the mind and using God and that makes a practical difference.”

“God is absolutely four cities but you'll notice ladies and gentlemen that the final book in the Bible has got two cities won't you there's believe it or not mystery Babylon the grain and there's a new Jerusalem that's no accident of course because in a sense the Bible is a tale of two cities and it's not a question of which city you live in it's a question of which city you live for.”

“The simple answer is the obvious one that the first and biggest foundation that was totally missing in Babel was trusting God for the foundation of life and meaning and significance and life journey was a following God as God said come and invited the man to leave that city on those foundations not to give up the idea of a city but to think around conceptually about a totally new kind of city organized life but organized round basic principles like that of trusting God that's what the story is about.”

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