by James Thomas

Created on: October 29, 2009   Last Updated: October 31, 2009

Understanding Abraham as an ideal man of faith is found in the entire story of his life. As believers we search for comparisons from other people to help us understand the problem of our own life. The problems we have in our faith are no different. So when we look to Abraham to show us the ideal role model, see first that his ideal faith was a work in progress and not instant.

"1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." - Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV)

Idolatry:

Abram was called out from among his family to leave a city that had idolatry. The predominant city in the land of the Chaldeans was the city of Ur. This city was devoted to the moon-god Nannar.[1] This does not mean that polytheism was practiced by everyone on the earth. The fact that in chapter 14 of Genesis, Abram is met by the King of Salem who was a priest to the "most high God, creator of heaven and earth", shows that polytheism was still a practicing religion at that time. Further information about calling of Abram is provided in Joshua:

And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. Josh 24:2-3 (KJV)

The Call:

This is one of seven communications that Abram has with God. Acts 7:2 says that the glory of God appeared to him but the exact method of the communication is unclear. What we do know is that God spoke to Abram. This is important to understand because Abram was changed by the words God gave him. In the New Testament, Abraham is credited faith for his obedience but that faith was created by the Word of God first. Romans 10:17 says "17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." It is the Word that brings about the miracle of faith in a person. This Word today is the Bible.

From this communication between God and Abram we learn this about faith: Faith is founded on the true Word of God and it leads

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