And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.” vs.
Genesis 15:1-6
Abram is a significant figure for both Jews and Muslims. Both religions point to him as a mighty Semetic patriarch, some would say the first quasi-historical figure to appear in the ancient stories of scripture. He was born in the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia but began a nomadic search for a new homeland, traveling through most of the Middle East in the process. The stories that were passed on about his exploits describe an adventurer, a gifted man who was able to accumulate flocks and herds along the way. He could be decisive in battle and deceptive in negotiations, but as the years passed he lamented the lack of an heir, especially since the Lord had promised that he would be the father of a great nation. But Abram believed; he trusted the promise, and this became his defining attribute for all the generations that followed. Muslims and Christians alike remember his faith, and the apostle Paul in particular, used him to show the centrality of faith, rather than works, in a believer’s life. We likely all know people like this, folks who make their share of mistakes as they wander and search; they can have a variety of occupations and even dysfunctional families. But the one thing that they have in spades is faith–come hell or high water, they have learned to always put their trust in the Lord. And they are blessed!
Thought for the Day: Who for me has been a model of faith?
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