A Journey through Romans - Chapter 4

Paul tells of the struggles and triumps of Abraham in Romans 4 and before going on to tell of how much incredible faith Abraham had this statement gets made


Rom 4:7  "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
Rom 4:8  blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."

This sounds like a continuation of Romans 3 but then it takes a turn and describes how much patience and faith Abraham had.

The story goes Abraham so badly wanted a child with Sarah who was completely barron which meant she could not have any kids but God seeing Abrahams pain made a promise that she will be bear a child and that through this child Abraham will be a father of many nations. What happens next is Abraham did receive Gods Promise but the child only came when he was nearing the age of 100 (he was 99) a few good years older an during those years Abraham was growing more weary by the day until Sarah conceived and that sons name was Isaac. As I turn now to the book of Genesis to explain Abraham's faith in God take a look at this passage

Gen 18:14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."

and then further down in Genesis this happens


Gen 22:1  After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
Gen 22:2  He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

Now you can imagine for Abraham this must have been hard, but he obeyed anyway and getting to the mountain and preparing  for the sacrifice this happens


Gen 22:10  Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
Gen 22:11  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
Gen 22:12  He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."


Gen 22:13  And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Gen 22:14  So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

Picture yourself in Abrahams situation in this day of age, we would not be responding the way Abraham did, we would not carry the intense faith and patience Abraham had and what Paul is ultimately getting across is that if we let go of our everyday lives and let God control it great things can and will happen we just have to faith.