The first 11 chapters of Genesis covered plenty of grounds from creation, the fall of man, and how man continued to multiply and filled the earth. However, the story took a turn on how man continued to live in sin and was dispersed to every part of the world after the Tower of Babel. The attention then shifts to how God worked. He called a man named Abram, who was later named Abraham. Abraham’s faith was later recorded in eleven chapters of the book of Hebrew known as the chapter of faith. What kind of faith did Abraham have which we can learn today? We will explore 5 of them today. First, the Lord initiated the call of Abram (Genesis 12:1). We must be clear that God initiates the call to bring people back to Him. If you ever felt that you need to come back to God, this experience is the encounter with God. Our natural self does not seek the things of God. Thus the urge to come back to God does not come naturally but spiritually. God is calling people all over the world to come back to Him today. Secondly, Abram obeyed. Obedience is a sacred choice. Obedience is the fruit of faith. In the time of Abram, people do not hear from God. The scripture did not record for us the details of how Abram reacted when the LORD spoke to him. My imagination is one of awe and wonders like that in Isaiah 6. The encounter resulted in Abram packing up and leave. This is where his faith took him. I suspect that many of us did not experience the fullness of Christian life because we did not obey the call. We heard the LORD’s call but did not respond in obedience. Jesus once taught that this kind of faith (hear but refuse to act on what is heard) is building on the foundation of sand. This kind of faith cannot stand testing. (Matthew 7:24-27). Thirdly, Abram went and he failed along the way. He tried to lie his way for safety. This was found out later when Pharaoh wanted to take Sarai Abram’s wife when the LORD brought a plague to Pharaoh’s household. Abram was then asked to leave Egypt. We can learn here that our failure is not the end. When we step out of line, the LORD does provide a way back. We must, however, come back quickly. This is the idea of repentance. Repentance continues to call out to us today. Return quickly before the wrath of God comes. Revelation 22:12. Fourthly, Abram worshipped and prayed in the midst of busyness (Genesis 13:4). Material success has caused so many to fall from faith but not for Abram. He built a place where he worshipped and prayed. In our time we can worship and pray anywhere as recorded in John 4. This is also known as the secret place in Psalm 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Abram's faith was not his possessions but who he possessed – the LORD! Lastly, Abram knows he has the best because whatever the LORD is going to give him is the best. When Lot and Abram's servants started to strife, it was time to part. Abram, the elder between them, humbled himself and let junior Lot pick his choice of land. Lot did so by sight, and Abram by faith. Lot ended in the seemingly futile land near Sodom and Gomorrah which later proved to be hostile. Abram chose the land of Canaan and Lord assured Abram that whatever Abram set his feet God will give the land to him. The Giver is whom Abram had and that is better than any given land. During this time of the pandemic, we may lose our job, our businesses, our freedom to meet, and many more. Most countries are restricted to stay home. These are temporary measures. The real question is do we believe in an unchanging God? Will we have the faith of Abraham?

May we use our free time to cultivate a deeper relationship with the God of Abraham. This can only be done when we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. John 14:6-7 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. May we recognize the call of God today, respond in obedience, return quickly from our failure, be emerged in prayer and worship regularly, and trust God for His provision when we step out again. Grace and peace to you.