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“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore” ( Hebrews 11:11-12 )

It would be easy to become discouraged and hopeless in a situation like this. Abraham and Sarah waited for years hoping to have a child only to grow old without an heir. The possibility of reproduction gone with each passing year. The history of trying to conceive over and over without success would be more than enough to dash any hope for the future.

Then the Lord appeared to Abraham telling him at the same time next year Sarah would have a son. Sarah laughed as she overheard the conversation but the Lord replied to her, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son” ( Genesis 18:14 ). Confirming the Word he originally gave Abraham that through him he would be the father of many nations ( Genesis 12:2-3, 15:4-5 ).

Faced with a decision to believe God for the impossible, both Abraham and Sarah took the steps of faith required to conceive. Because of faith Sarah received the physical power to get pregnant although she was long past the ability to do so. The key lies in the fact that she considered God faithful who had promised a son. She chose not to consider the circumstances surrounding the situation only the guarantor of the promise.

In the same way, Abraham disregarded the fact that he was one hundred years old and that Sarah had been barren and had long since passed the age of childbearing. Instead he considered God faithful to His word and able to bring it to pass. Romans 4 gives a marvelous picture of Abraham’s faith, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” ( Romans 4:18-21 ).

When hope was gone, Abraham got supernatural hope to carry him through to where the promise was released. Throughout the process he started considering God, rather than the circumstance. As a result he started praising Him, giving glory, building himself up in faith, being fully persuaded that God would do what He said He would. Praising unlocked the faith needed to see the promise fulfilled. And because of it Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness ( Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:22 ).

You and I have been blessed by the faith of Abraham and Sarah. Because he believed God he became the father of many nations and the father of faith. All of those who trust in Jesus as their savior have been credited with the same righteousness that Abraham received by faith ( Romans 4:23-24 ) because they choose to believe God when the circumstances seemed impossible.

“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. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” ( Hebrews 11:8-10 )

Faith propels people to do strange things from the viewpoint of the world. I had a friend who left family and friends, moving to Costa Rica to be a missionary because she heard God instruct her to do so. She didn’t have any missionary support when she left, she just knew she was supposed to go. She was heavily criticized by those around her for taking such bold steps without a husband, financial support or long term accommodations. However, in an act a faith, she went. And God, true to His word supplied everything she needed, bringing her into a loving community of missionaries who shared the same vision of ministering to the people of Costa Rica.

Although this seems like an unusual story of faith, it is not unheard of. Abraham experienced the same thing. God came to Abram and told him to leave his country, his people and his father’s household going to a land He would show him. Then God gave Abram a very great promise. “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. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” ( Genesis 12:2-3 ). At this time Abram was seventy-five years old and without an heir. However, he considered the promise of God and set out in faith to participate. He left seeking the land he would receive as an inheritance knowing that God would also give him a son in the process.

While on this earth, Abraham lived as a stranger in a foreign country in tents. What makes this account amazing is that he was waiting expectantly and confidently for God’s promise to come to pass. Abraham used faith to perceive from a distance what would be instead of looking at his present situation. Verse 10 shines light on this, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” ( Hebrews 11:10 ). Abraham could see in faith what God could do if he believed him and obeyed. He chose to disregard the things of this world for the things of God. Looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.

Just as in the example from my missionary friend, this type of faith is unusual and makes people uncomfortable. However, the reward is too great to pass on. We must look toward the future in faith with spiritual eyes. Considering that God is always faithful to His promises. Like Abraham we must disregard the things of this world for a chance to follow God’s instructions knowing that God always rewards faith ( Hebrews 11:6 ).

"When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised" ( Hebrews 6:13-15 ).

I remember going to Sunday school as a child and learning about Abraham. We learned about the birth of Isaac and how it came about because God promised him a son. I remember a teacher bringing a jar of sand to the class and asking us to count it. Of course we couldn't but the object lesson rang true, Abraham was blessed by God and his descendants were going to be numerous.

Since that time, I think often about Abraham and how he waited a long time to see this promise fulfilled. He was one hundred years old, Sarah was ninety yet he considered the one who promised him, faithful. That is why he held to the hope of having a son and also saw fulfillment of it.

The amazing thing about all of this is that Isaac was really just the down payment of the promise.  Even the great number of people descending from Abraham was merely one of the blessings that came along with the promise. The real implication of this promise was that through the line of Abraham and Isaac the Messiah would come ( Galatians 3:8-9, Galatians 3:16, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 17:8 ). Galatians makes this very clear, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ” ( Galatians 3:16 ). This was a great promise and with it God announced the gospel in advance to Abraham when He made this pledge ( Galatians 3:8 ).

God promised this to Abraham with an oath. In court, when giving testimony, the witness is sworn in with the Bible, the promise is that they will tell the truth and the object used is the guarantor of the promise. Scripture says God swore by himself since there was nothing greater to guarantee His promise to Abraham ( Hebrews 6:13 ). This pledge was backed by His namesake, His word and His power. This means that it would be fulfilled at all cost. Abraham may have gotten the down payment with Isaac, but we have seen fulfillment in Jesus.

The great thing about Abraham is that he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness ( Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23 ). Scripture mentions this four times which means it is incredibly important for us. He took God’s guaranteed promise, backed by an oath, and knew that it would come to pass. He believed God and was justified by faith the same way we are today. “This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” ( Romans 4:22-24 ). Abraham is called the father of faith for a reason. His faith has truly blessed the world as it was the conduit for the promise of God to come to pass.

"For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants" ( Hebrews 2:16 )

This is an interesting verse. If you look at its context you will see that it is talking about both the fallen angels who rebelled against God and mankind after the fall of man. As I read and studied this passage I asked the Lord why He helped mankind and not the fallen angels. His answer to me was simple yet powerful, I created the angels to serve and worship me, but I created mankind for relationship.

Angels were created as servants to worship God

Angels are created beings the same as us. They were created to serve and worship God as well as minister and serve believers ( Psalm 103:20, Hebrews 1:14 ). In God's goodness He created the angels with a free will just as He did mankind. The angels knew who God was, experienced his power saw His glory, yet some rebelled. They made their choice in that moment knowing the full weight of their decision. In other words, there is no redemption for them because it was a willful decision to betray God.

Mankind was created for relationship

After God created Adam and Eve, he walked with them in the cool of the evening. This means He fellowshipped with them, talked with them and knew them. They were created for relationship. Even after they disobeyed His command and were banished from the garden, He still walked and talked with them ( Genesis 4 ). Sin didn't change this; they weren't out of fellowship with Him nor were they cut off from Him. After the fall, He still related to them just as He had in the garden.

The Bible records that "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away" ( Genesis 5:24 ). One day Enoch was caught up into heaven to live with God because they were so close they wouldn't be separated any longer. Enoch knew the intimate relationship that God designed humans to experience with Him.

In the same manner, God and Abraham were friends. God trusted Abraham and revealed the gospel in advance because He did not want to keep it from their friendship ( Genesis 15, Genesis 17, Genesis 18:16-19 ). Abraham was the only Old Testament figure known as a friend of God ( Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23 ). They had a relationship.

David was called a man after God's own Heart ( 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22 ). Not because his life was perfect or because he lived holy. In fact his life was a series of wars, unrest, adultery, murder, not to mention all the ongoing trouble he experienced with his family. But he was called a man after God's own heart because He knew God. He knew God would rescue him. He knew God would forgive Him. He knew He could count on God. He knew that God should be the first person to run to in times of trouble. And He knew hope for the future because of their intimacy. Reading the words of David throughout the Psalms makes it clear that David had a relationship with God, and God constantly moved on David’s behalf.

As believers we are all called friends of God ( John 15:15 ). We have been brought into intimate unity with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ( John 17:22-23 ). We are called children of God ( Romans 8:14-16 ). And co-heirs with Christ ( Romans 8:17 ). This is an incredible truth. In the past few ventured into a deep relationship with God, but through Jesus we have been united with Him in perfect unity ( John 17:23 ). We have His Spirit living inside us reminding us of everything Jesus said ( John 14:26 ). God made it possible to have relationship with Him through Christ.

In all of these examples we see that God has befriended mankind and extended His love to us. The fall of man didn't change His mind about us. He still loves us, desires relationship and provides the way of restoration. David saw this and wrote, "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor" ( Psalm 8:4-5 ).

Over the next two days we will look at Hebrews 2:16. We will look at why God helps mankind and not the fallen angles. Paying close attention to the importance God places on mankind.

Tomorrow we look at Part 2: God Thinks Highly of Mankind

Jesus accomplished so many things upon the cross. Through him, we have total victory over sin and death. Paul stresses in this verse, that there are three very important ideas and truths to take away with us and understand. First, Jesus was betrayed and deliver over to death as the payment for our sins. Secondly, as he was raised to life, he conquered death once for all. Lastly, he ascended to heaven to acquit us before God and declare us justified before him.

Although it is true that Jesus was betrayed and delivered over to death, it is equally important for us to recognize that he had authority in the matter. He life was taken, only because he had already laid it down for us. We were without hope before God because sin had corrupted us, but Romans 5 says, "... when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ( Romans 5:6-8 ) We were without hope and enemies of God but Jesus still laid his life down for us, to take away our sin once for all. ( Hebrews 9:28 ). Through his death, sin had been completely paid for.

The resurrection of Jesus is the pinnacle of history as we know it. Jesus is the first person to rise from the dead and conquer death permanently. Romans 6:8-9 says, "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. " He conquered sin in his sacrifice upon the cross and then he conquered death in his resurrection from the dead.

Lastly, after his ascension, he now intercedes for us at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:14 says, "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." So the end result for us if we believe in Jesus by faith, is justification. Justification is the act whereby Jesus makes us completely holy before God. To do this he not only forgives our sin, but he imparts righteousness to us, so that it is as if we have never sinned.

Both Abraham and David saw glimpses of this incredible feat that Jesus would do for us and they called us blessed. Today, if you believe in Jesus as your savior then have complete victory over sin and death because he purchased it for you. Today, we are completely blessed having been redeemed from the curse of the law and made righteous and holy before God. Praise Jesus for his love and this precious gift to us.

Why was Paul so careful making sure he mentioned that the result of Abrahams faith extended to us? The Scriptures say that, "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness." ( Genesis 15:6 ). Paul is noting that the same credit of righteousness is extended to everyone who firmly relies in Jesus as Lord.

Abraham's faith was a conduit of the righteousness that God bestowed upon him, but his faith rested in the promise. The promise extends to us because the promise referred to the Messiah. Abraham saw a glimpse of this and knew that the Salvation of the world would come through his heir. Fortunate for us, God extends this hope of salvation to everyone who believes in Jesus. Romans 2:11 says, that God is no respecter of persons (KVJ). This is a great thing because it doesn't rely on who we are or what we do, it only relies on the person and the grace of Jesus.

There is a caveat however. To have righteousness credited unto your account you have to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. To the natural man, this is utterly ridiculous and hard to understand. On the other hand, many people confess this, but their confession is merely words. The Amplified Bible explains what truly believing is... to believe you must firmly rely on, trust in and adhere to what you confess. We can take lesson from Abraham because he was fully persuaded in the promise and because of that any doubt that remain was overpowered by his faith. To have God's righteousness credited to us, we have to be fully persuaded that He raised Jesus from the dead, and we have to believe this by faith.

Today, I praise God that we have Abraham as a powerful example of faith. I praise God that the blessing he received extends to us. I am so thankful to have obtained this righteousness apart from the Law, which is by faith. The same faith working in all who believe in Jesus. What a marvelous thing!

Abraham was the only saint in the Old Testament who was called a friend of God. Abraham pleased the Lord greatly, but it wasn't because he was good or even because he was living a holy life. In fact Abraham did some things that would raise our eyebrows today. But nevertheless, he pleased the Lord because he lived fully immersed in faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says, ‘without faith it is impossible to please God..." so the opposite is also truth, with faith it is possible to please God. The rest of that verse goes on to say, "...because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." ( Hebrews 11:6 ) Abraham was a living example of this, he knew the Lord intimately and because of it, he was convinced that God was capable of everything he had promised to him. God loves that kind of faith!

The Bible is God's love letter to us. He has done everything that can possibly be done to redeem mankind. The Bible is God's promise to us. In the same way that Abraham believed what God had promised him and was credited with righteousness, we too, need only to rely on the promise within His word and what Jesus did to obtain right standing with him.

Abraham believed and exercised his faith in God and received right standing with God. In the same way, we also only need to put our faith in Jesus and firmly rely on him as our personal savior and then God credits us with that righteousness that solidifies our standing before him. Today if you have done this, then you, like Abraham, are also considered a friend of God! What a blessed thing!

This passage of scripture is utterly amazing and profound! We are witnessing the law of faith in action. Paying special attention to this will help us see results in our own lives. Abraham is the father of many nations because he had the kind of faith that stood firm until the promise was fulfilled.

The Promise was that Abraham would be the father of many nations ( Genesis 17:4-5 ) and that the whole world would be blessed through him ( Genesis 12:3 ). This promise also speaks of the Seed of Abraham as the Messiah ( Galatians 3:16 ). The problem was that Abraham was nearly one hundred years old and impotent. His wife Sarah, was and had always been barren and was also ninety years old. So this verse gives us amazing information to consider when the problem seems to outweigh the promise.

Like Abraham we cannot focus on the problem, instead we need to focus on the promise. The King James Bible puts it this way, "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb..." ( Romans 4:19 ) The facts were it was impossible for them to have a child. But the scriptures say, he did not consider the facts only the promise. In Hebrews 11, also known as the 'Faith Hall of Fame', it notes that Abrahams faith rose up because he 'considered him faithful who made the promise.' ( Hebrews 11:11 ) and by that he was able to overcome any doubt from the circumstances surrounding the problem.

Abraham, because he knew God, was able to disregard what seemed impossible. Instead of doubting the promise he let his faith override his unbelief. He did not consider why it was impossible he only consider the one who promised him and knew that he was faithful to deliver. To operate in faith, you and I must focus on God's promise to us and discount anything that hinders you believing in that promise.

When we look to God, and focus on him, then circumstances will fade into the background. Today, I pray that you trust God with what he has spoken to you. Believe and consider him faithful to perform his word. In doing so, you, like Abraham and Sarah will reap the benefits of your faith.

I have prayed for many people over the years for various things. One girl, in particular stands out because her body was sick and robbing her of life. The doctors could do nothing for her and as we talked, I looked into her eyes and saw that she had no hope. I remember thinking to myself, that this was a great place to be... fed up with the circumstances and hopeless for a solution.

No matter what anyone says, we all have faith. Because of this, we put our faith in what we believe. If we believe we will receive the answer from the doctor, then we will exercise our faith by seeking that answer, from the doctor. If we believe we have a chance at the million dollar jackpot, then we will buy a lottery ticket. If we believe the building we are in, is on fire, then we will leave the building. When we believe something, it show by how we appropriate our faith in that belief.

In this example from Abraham, he used his faith to believe God. The difference between us and Abraham, is that 'against all hope, Abraham in hope believed'. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be." ( Romans 4:18; Amp ). His human hope was gone because there was no possible way physically, that he should father a child by Sarah. Both well pass the age or capability. But the scriptures say, that he didn't hope with his limited understanding, instead he hoped through the supernatural hope imparted by God.

He took what had been spoken to him as fulfilled even before it had begun. To do that, faith first has to rise on the inside. Hoping with a supernatural hope in the promise of God. When we base our faith in God's word and what he has promised, then our faith is based in truth. Thank God that Abraham operated in faith because he saw the fulfillment of God's promise and we were also blessed through it. The circumstances surrounding him, ceased to exist when he clung to that hope, riding on God's word.

In the same way, the lady, whose eyes held disappointment and hopelessness, lit up at hearing this very scripture because all of a sudden her hope wasn't based on anything but God and his word. As we spent a couple hours pouring over this passage in Romans, faith rose on the inside of her until she couldn't contain herself. As we prayed together for her body to heal and the sickness to leave in Jesus' name, she showed that she believed God's word by her faith. And her faith made her well that very hour. Every day she grew strong and healthier until it was physically evident that her health was completely restored. She choose to operate in faith, believing God for the impossible according to human standards. She hoped in hope, and saw fulfillment of what had been promised her in the scriptures.

Today, I encourage you to find just one promise in God's word and believe it with all your heart, mind and strength. Whatever you are needing from him. Find it, read it, meditate on it until you believe it with all your heart. When you start operating in faith, based on truth, then you will be blessed and completely changed by it. And like Abraham, your faith and the fulfillment of the promise will also bless many others as well! Amen.

No matter what the circumstances around you, when you have a promise from God from his written word, then that promise is as strong and faithful as the guarantor of that promise. Abraham knew this and that is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham believed God, even though, what he was believing for had not yet come to pass.

The amazing thing from this passage of scripture is that Paul reminds us that this was written. Psalms 138:2 says, "...thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." (KVJ) So the written word of God carries much weight. We know that everything in heaven, on earth and under the earth will one day bow down and confess that Jesus is Lord. He is given the name above every name. ( Philippians 2:9-11 ). However, the Psalms said that God himself magnifies his word above his name. Why? Because His name rests on his word.

You have heard it say that a man is only as good as his word. Meaning that unless one does what they say the will do, they cannot be trusted. God holds himself to the same standard. In other words, if a promise has been spoken by him and has been recorded in his word, then that promise is as good as the name he bears and you can consider the promise fulfilled. The name to which one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.

Abraham believed God when he told him that he would be the father of many nations. No matter what the circumstances, he clung to that promise. It didn't matter that he was nearly one hundred years old. It didn't matter that Sarah was over ninety years old. No, didn't matter that she was barren. The scriptures tell us two things regarding this promise. First, God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. Secondly the scriptures tell us that Abraham believed God.

In fact, Abraham believe God before he believed his circumstances. He knew that when God spoke and promised something that he would deliver it. He reasoned that God would do what he promised even when, in the physical it seemed impossible. And Abraham saw the fulfillment of part of that promise through Isaac and had glimpses of the rest of the fulfillment through Jesus. His faith was the catalyst to bring the promise to realization.

The second half of this verse is so powerful. '...God gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.' ( Romans 4:17 ) We see this example in creation. Nothing existed before hand, but God spoke and believed that what he had spoke would come to pass. As he spoke, things that did not exist, came into existence. He called things that were not as though they were, and suddenly the were.

Abraham believed God in such a way. Even though in the present physical condition, there was no heir to the promise, he believed God. He knew that God was able to call things into existence. All of this steams out of a personal relationship with Him and knowing him. It also comes from knowing his word and the promises within. When we know God in an intimate way, then we know who he is and what he will do. The more we know about him, the more we look to him and forward to the outcome rather than the circumstances.

This is so important for us today, because no matter what the circumstances are, no matter what the doctor has said, no matter what we feel, we need to rest of what God has said about it. He is the one who 'gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.' ( Romans 4:17 ) When we believe him in such a way, then, like Abraham we operate in unwavering faith. Also like Abraham, we see the promises of God that are done and complete, called to manifest into the physical realm where we can interact with them.

Today, I praise God, that He is the one who gives life to the dead and changes circumstances. I praise God that the more we know him, the more we are able to operate in the faith that Abraham had. Because of this, 'He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believe' ( Romans 4:17 ) His faith has blessed us and will continue to do so for the many generations to come. Amen!