Once upon a time there was a man named Abraham, and he lived in a beautiful city. Abraham loved God very much and always listened to Him. One day God said to Abraham, “Leave your home and go to a land that I will show you.”
That was a great adventure! But Abraham trusted God. He took his wife Sarah and all his things and set off with his animals. They went and went until God showed them the land He had promised them. There they were at home.
Another time, when Abraham was looking at the stars in the sky, God came to him and made him a great promise. God said, “Abraham, I’m going to make you the father of many, many people. As many as the stars in the sky.”
Abraham was amazed, because he and Sarah had no children at all. But Abraham trusted God. And God went on to say, “You will have a son. And from your family there will be a great nation.”
Some time passed, but Abraham and Sarah still had firm faith in God’s promise. And indeed, the miracle happened: When they were both very old, God gave them a little boy. They called him Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were so happy.
God had kept His promise because Abraham trusted Him. Abraham was very grateful and praised God.
Message of history
When we trust God, He cares for us and always keeps His promises. God wants us to believe Him, even when things look difficult.
Bible passage
The story of how Abraham trusts God spans several chapters in Genesis (Genesis). Here are the relevant passages from Genesis 12:1-4; 15, 1-6; and 17, 1-8 (Schlachter 2000):
Genesis 12:1-4:
“And the Lord said to Abram, “Go out of your land, and out of your kindred, and out of your father’s house, into the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and magnify your name, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you; and in you shall be blessed all the families of the earth. Then Abram went away, as the Lord had said to him, and Lot went with him; But Abram was 75 years old when he moved out of Haran.”
Genesis 15:1-6:
“After these events the word of the Lord came to Abram in a revelation, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield and your very great reward.’ Then Abram said, “Lord, Lord, what will you give me?” I am going away childless, and the heir to my house is Eliëser of Damascus. And Abram said, “Behold, you have not given me seed, and behold, one of my servants will be my inheritance.” But behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This shall not be your inheritance, but he who shall proceed from your body shall be your inheritance.” And he brought him out and said, “Behold the heavens, and count the stars, if you can count them.” And he said to him, “This is how your seed shall be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
Genesis 17:1-8:
“When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless! And I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you beyond measure. Then Abram fell on his face. And God spoke to him, saying, “Behold, I have my covenant with you, and you shall be a father of many nations; therefore your name shall no longer be called Abram, but Abraham shall be your name; for I have made you the father of many nations. And I will make you fruitful beyond measure, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation, as an everlasting covenant, to be to you God and your seed after you. And I will give you and your seed after you the land in which you are now a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for your everlasting possession. and I will be their God.”
