Many Bible characters are known by a significant trait or experience. Samson was strong. Moses recorded the Ten Commandments. David defeated Goliath, Job suffered, Jonah ran, Thomas doubted, and Peter walked on water. Abraham’s distinction, however, was his faith. If you search the Internet for ‘Heroes of the Faith’ you’ll find Abraham near the top of most lists. Here are four features of Abraham’s faith I gleaned from my old friend and colleague, Don Simpson¹.

1. When God approached Abraham with an unthinkable assignment, Abraham’s first response was to obey. That doesn’t mean he didn’t struggle with it, but he trusted God enough to comply.

2. Abraham used what he knew about God to inform his obedience. He considered what he’d learned about God’s character and interests while negotiating with Him over the fate of Sodom in Genesis 18. This is the root of faith. Learning what God is like, and what promises He’s made in the Bible.

3. God works with us. Difficult decisions are best approached by reflecting on His nature, His promises, and His history with people like Abraham, Esther, Joseph, and others. They assigned responsibility for their outcomes to God. Even in their darkest moments.

4. The best way to understand what God is like is to read the four accounts of His Son’s activities in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide four different descriptions of Jesus’ life. Reading any or all of them is an excellent way to understand why Abraham trusted God so completely. 

1. From a conversation with Don Simpson on June 6, 1999. (See Genesis 18, Genesis 22:1-19, and Hebrews 11:17-19)