Faith—this is something that Abraham was known for. In fact, he was regarded not just as the Father of many Nations but as the Father of Faith. However, his faith was not perfect. How was Abraham regarded as the Father of Faith despite of his faithlessness? Why the God of mercy did destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? How can our faithlessness magnifies God’s faithfulness? Find out how the Bible answer these questions through this animated video of the life of Abraham based in the book of Genesis. This video focuses on faith and faithlessness.
While watching this video, I realized that faithlessness can cause us to do unwise decisions, experience unnecessary pains, and even death. However, God’s faithfulness is still greater than our faithlessness.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”—Hebrews 11:1
This is the definition of faith from the Bible and this is the same faith that Abraham demonstrated. In Hebrews 11:8, “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.” Abraham wasn’t sure of the things ahead, but he still went because God said so.
In Genesis 15: 4-5, God had given him a promise saying, “Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”…“Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abraham, regardless of the reality that he was childless believed in the word of God. “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (v6)
Abraham, even from the beginning, was faithful but his faith wasn’t perfect. In fact, the faith that he had was tested through time. Years have passed and the promise of a child wasn’t there yet. Instead of waiting, Abraham did things in his own way. He listened to Sarah’s voice, instead of God’s, and obtained a child from Hagar. He trusted his own understanding, despite of clearly hearing from God that Sarah will bear the son that God has promised. Now, talking about the faithlessness of the Father of Faith.
Sarah, on the other hand, didn’t have the faith to believe God’s promise because of the reality of her situation. It is certain that she and Abraham were advanced in years and there’s no way possible that she will be able to bear a son. This is the reason why he told Abraham to obtain a child from her Egyptian servant, Hagar. In fact, while she was eavesdropping to Abraham and the Lord’s conversation and heard that the Lord promised Abraham a son through her, she did laughed to herself because she did not believed.(see Genesis 18:12)
Abraham and Sarah have grown faithless as they waited for God’s promise. Sounds familiar? What are God’s promises that we’re holding on to, yet as time passed by, when the reality makes that promise even more impossible, we grew faithless and settled with those alternatives that we thought of? Abraham, the Father of Faith, have grown faithless. But even amidst his faithlessness, God is faithful.
God has proven Himself faithful. Isaac was born despite of Abraham and Sarah’s old age. No matter how impossible it is, God was able to do it— because He who promised is faithful. However, the testing of Abraham’s faith was not done yet. A much bigger test is yet to come. God commanded Abraham offer Isaac, his only son, as burnt offering. It wasn’t an easy decision for sure, but Abraham trusted God and obeyed him. This test perfected Abraham’s faith.
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”—Hebrews 11:17“
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”— Hebrews 11:6
I don’t know the things that God is telling you to surrender right now. Abraham was asked to surrender even the most precious thing for him and he did because he knew that He who promised is faithful. I pray that just like Abraham, we will learn to all the more trust God. Faith comes from knowing. You can never have faith to someone whom you do not know. Sodom and Gomorrah didn’t know nor believe in God. They have lived in sin as if there was no God. That was a faithless place, that’s why God destroyed it. The people there paid the costly price of their faithlessness. God is merciful but he won’t tolerate sin. In fact, He was already faithful enough to save those who come to Him and will never look back, just like what he did with Lot and his daughters.