Lesson 4 Abraham the Father of Faith

Genesis 12 : 1-9, 22 :1-18, Hebrews 11 : 8-10)

1. In the story of creation God comes down to man, calling him to make a decision for Him. The faithfullness of Adam to this call was supposed to be his response to God, but Adam failed, disbelieving God. This turning away from God was an eternal temptation for man continued to be shown in the stories of Cain, (Gen 4) of sin of the sons of God with the daughters of men (Gen 6/1-4) wickedness increasing on earth at the time of Noah (Gen6/5-8) Tower of Babel (Gen11). But salvation history is a story of Gods never failing efforts to bring man back to Himself. The return journey of man to God begins with Abraham the Father of faith. To have a full grasp of the beauty of a life lived in deep faith; compare it with the life of persons having no faith, that of street children not going to school, or never had been to a church. 2. It is the author of the letter to the Hebrews who provided the classical definition of faith as: guarantee of the things we hope for and the

certainty of the things that we do not see (11/1). Abraham hoped for a great
nation coming up from his son Issac but God asked Abraham to sacrifice the very same Isaac. Still Abraham believes that inspite of the death of his son, the promise by God will be fulfilled, because God who made the promise is faithful. We see the faith of thousands of people in salvation history, even today, whose life is based on the promises of God, and lovingly hope for its realization. At times we admire such people by saying he/she is a vishwasi. 3. A believer generates believers. Abraham became father of innumerable believers like sand on the sea shore. who would have faith in God (Gen12/2). By becoming a model of unquestioning and absolute faith in God, Abraham became a blessing to all those

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We are called not only to express and celebrate our faith but also to communicate it. Many missionaries built up faith communities, particularly in ETRI. Still the struggle goes on. How can our pithru sangam, mathrusangam and MCYM join this struggle? 4. Faith without action is as good as dead. Faith demands sacrifice. To follow Gods command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge demanded sacrifice from Adam. To prove his faithfulness to God, Yahweh asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Issac from whom, God promised, a great nation would arise. Gods demand would certainly look to us unreasonable. But what God wanted from Abraham was not the sacrifice of his son but of Abraham himself, of his will. By getting ready to obey Gods command Abraham sacrificed his own will. A

broken spirit is my sacrifice (Ps 51/17). Are we happier with a sacrifice free life?
The tendency nowadays is to avoid the slightest suffering. Better to be aware of the sacrifices one has to undertake to practice faith according to the traditions of the Malankara Catholic church. 5. The Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac Jacob and Joseph struggled with God and men for progeny and possessions. Confer Jacobs Peniel experience (Gen32/30). This is the background in which the hymn Addima neethinjenara

varhiya daivamis sung in the marriage liturgy of the Malankara Catholic

Church. 6. Faith is a generic term expressing mans relationship to God. In the Christian tradition, Faith, Hope, and Love are joined together as fundamental virtues. Faith generates love. A Christian is one who lives in faith, hope and love, love for God and the fellow beings.

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