10. A FAITH THAT CHANGED THE WORLD |
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Have you ever believed something so much that it changed your life or even the way people looked at you? For example, maybe you worked hard and went to university because a teacher complimented and challenged you. Sometimes we forget the power of belief, but it is what makes the world go round. Beliefs are the foundation of politics and all the world’s religions. Beliefs establish countries and tear them down. And for the lives of two individuals in this lesson, the simple act of believing changed the way they were forever remembered.
Adil was a 15-year-old boy from a poor village in the eastern part of Turkey. He was the son of a shepherd and didn’t even know how to read or write. But he was very well respected in the village for his honesty and humbleness.
Life was very simple for Adil. Every day he woke up early, milked the family cow and ate breakfast. After eating, he would take the sheep out into the fields. During the dry season, he had to walk long distances just to find food for them. Sometimes he even had to sleep outside under the stars. Shepherding can be very lonely work, but Adil had friends who would sometimes walk with him and it helped pass the time. When his friends weren’t around, it was their previous conversations and his own thoughts that kept him company. Because Adil wasn’t a particularly brave boy, some of those nights seemed like they would last forever and the sounds of insects and howling wolves kept him awake all night. If it weren’t for the light of the stars, he might not have been able to bear the loneliness.
It was 1914 and as the hot days of summer began to cool and fall set in, Adil began making preparations for a long winter. There were always rumors in this part of the country because it was far removed from the royal courts of Istanbul and real news just never travelled that far. But lately the rumors had been growing more frequent and they weren’t all coming from the west.
“The empire is in trouble. The Sultan has lost his grip on the government. The war isn’t being fought in other countries anymore and if we don’t act fast, we may lose the very soil that we live on. They say Turkey is a “sick man”.”
Although the rumors were disturbing, Adil didn’t think that the Ottoman Empire would ever collapse much less that his life would change. In fact, it probably hadn’t changed much since the Turks originally came here.
“Why would anyone be worried about or interested in our area? There is nothing here, just a few dilapidated buildings. In fact, there are more sheep than people.” He thought to himself.
But it wasn’t long before his doubts would turn to worry. The first sign that things weren’t right was when two families stumbled into town. All they had was loaded into a donkey cart and they looked tired and hungry. They said that their village had been raided and that they ed for their lives. Although they didn’t provide any details, it was obvious that they had witnessed something terrible and it wasn’t long before more families and individuals passed through the village.
These families rarely stayed long and didn’t ask for much, but their visits had a toll on the village. The germs and illnesses they brought from war-ravaged areas began to infect the residents. First, Adil’s mother became ill and after fighting to hold on to her very life, she passed away. Adil’s father was heart broken but he knew that he had to stay strong for his son. Unfortunately, Adil’s father also got sick and without the care of a doctor or modern medicines his time was cut short. Knowing that he had very little time left, he called Adil to his bedside.
“Son, you have already lost your mother and my time on this earth is running out. I have taught you everything that I know. From now on, you will no longer be considered a boy. They say you are never a man until your parents die, and short of a miracle, that time has come.”
“Father, please don’t talk like this. I can’t make it on my own. I am just a boy and all I have is you. What will I do?”
“Son, there comes a time in every person’s life when they must grow up. You are the son of a shepherd and you know your trade well. But I want you to do something else. I didn’t tell you this before because I didn’t want you to worry. But, the rumors about our great empire are true. The war is pressing upon our borders and there is a great need for brave young men to fight. I want you to join the fight and bring honor to our family and people. You are brave and just as you faced those lonely nights in the mountains and hills, you can also face this. I believe in you son!”
“Father, if only I had your belief. As much as my heart wants to, in my mind I know it isn’t true. Most of those nights I sat trembling and waiting for the sun to rise. The thoughts of wolves and wild animals tearing me to pieces kept me awake. I am not brave father. I am a coward. I couldn’t even sleep in peace.”
“Adil, you are brave and never forget it. When the fear closes in on you, believe this simple truth and it shall set you free from fear.”
As his father said these final words, his breathing began to fade. Adil squeezed his father’s hand tighter in the hope that he could hold onto him longer. But with the words, “You are brave, you are brave,” hanging on his lips, he died. Adil fell to the floor and sobbed.
As hard as it was for Adil, he honored his father’s wishes and left his village. He didn’t know where to go, so he started travelling west until he found himself outside of Istanbul. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He had never seen a place like this before. But he had no time for sightseeing. He needed to enlist in the army. After signing up, he was outfitted with meager supplies, a weapon, and a uniform. He was placed in a division and given some training.
Adil’s division was moved to Canakkale and rumors of an invasion forced them to dig trenches and make preparations. From the outside, Adil appeared brave and strong. But on the inside he still felt like a scared little boy. However, when he realized that the other soldiers, both young and old, were also scared, it made him feel better. They were all lonely and had little or no contact with their families. The nights were cold and the rags that they called clothes barely kept them warm. But as every day passed, Adil began to believe his father’s words. He had left his village, travelled farther than anyone he knew, joined the army, and was now preparing to fight an enemy that came from a place he had never even heard of.
Adil prayed that an attack wouldn’t happen, but the bombardment shattered his hopes. He was never close enough to the shore to see the enemies approach. But it was only a matter of time before they would come face to face. There was almost no ammunition, food was scarce, and Adil didn’t want to die. As he took his place at the lip of the trench and held his unloaded rifle, the fear became overwhelming. As the order to charge was given and he crawled out of the trench, his father’s words flashed across his mind. He leapt from the trench and began to run. Men were falling all around him and before he made it to the next trench he felt a burning sensation in his stomach. He was lying on his back, looking at the sky, and repeating the words “I am brave, I am brave, I am brave.” He had been telling himself those words since his father’s death and he died believing them. Adil’s belief in what his father said not only changed the way he viewed himself, but the momentum of the war. Belief is a powerful thing!
Prophet Abram was like Adil in many ways. He was a shepherd from the east of Turkey who left his homeland. He felt the pains of death that separated him from his father and travelled long distances to fulfill a special task. But what made Abram so unique was his belief. And God, who knows everything and from whom nothing goes unseen, not only recognized his belief; he rewarded him for it. Let's start reading the story in Genesis chapter 15 verses 1-3:
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall
be very great. 2 But Abram said, O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.
The Bible tells us that after these things: Abram’s call, traveling to Egypt, rescuing Lot, and honoring Melchizedek; God appeared to Abram in a vision and promised him a great reward. Abram’s response was simple, “What shall you give me?” We know from previous stories that Abram had a beautiful wife, bravery, fortune, and the blessings of God. This would be enough to satisfy just about every man on the planet. But there was one thing he didn’t have, an heir. He had lived his whole life without knowing the pride, privilege, and joy of holding his own child. In his old age, and outside of a miracle, he knew that his chance was gone. But God had a plan! Let’s look at what happened in verses 4 and 5:
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir. 5 And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be.
Have you ever sat outside in the dark and looked up at the stars? During the darkest nights, away from the city lights, an innumerable amount of specks bring light to a dark world and create shapes in a shapeless horizon. I am sure all of us at some point in our lives have stood in wonder gazing into the night sky or maybe even tried to count those stars like Abram. In Abram’s time, the lack of smog, city lights, and air pollution rendered the sky even cleaner than the one we see today. In fact, the sky of Abram’s time was probably not much different than Adil’s. Knowing how hard it is for us to count the stars in our day, imagine what it was like for Abram when he was standing in the desert looking up at the clear night sky. But it wasn’t the number of the stars that was impressive. Rather it was the fact that God was promising Abram an heir and offspring as vast as the stars. God had already told this to Abram likening his offspring to the dust of the earth, but as time went on and Abram grew older, God wanted to remind Abram that he had not forgotten him. Perhaps for some of us, the idea of that many offspring makes us quiver. But for Abram, who had no children and in a time when children were of great value, the prospect of being a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather must have been exciting; especially at the age of 85 and after waiting his whole life. But what was to happen next was even more exciting than having a child because it has eternal implications. Let’s read verse 6:
6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Let’s pause here for a moment and think about this. God doesn’t say, "Abram you have been very good and now you will be called righteous;" nor "Abram I am pleased with your sacrifices and so I am declaring you righteous." No, the Bible simply says that Abram believed and God counted it to him as righteousness. For many of us, this may be hard to understand. How can God consider someone righteous simply because they believe Him? Well, we will need to wait for the answer to that question because it isn't written here, but as we study through the Bible it will become clearer. For now, the most important point is that the simple act of believing God is what made Abram to be considered righteous! People sometimes forget that the beginning of every major change in our personal lives or the whole world starts with an idea or belief. For Adil it was the belief that he really was brave and after convincing himself, he became known as a hero. But Abram's belief was not in himself or in his own abilities, rather it was that God would keep His word. And Abram's righteousness was not the result of convincing himself. On the contrary, it was the result of God declaring him to be righteous.
But this lesson doesn't just apply to Abram. The most exciting aspect of this story is that God places before us the reality that a person can obtain something greater than bravery, fame, or even prestige. That if we simply believe Him, we too can be righteous. What an amazing and life altering truth!
Abram listened to what God said, recognized that in human terms what He was proposing was impossible, and believed that God could fulfill that which he claimed. It was that simple and it is from this story that Abram became known as the Father of Faith. But if this is true, that is that belief leads to righteousness, would not the reverse also be true? If you disbelieve what God is telling you, it can make you unrighteous. Furthermore, how do you know what God is telling you; is there a way to judge between what is coming from God and Satan? Of course and as we journey through the Bible, God’s message will become clearer and clearer. But, let’s get back to the story because it doesn’t end there and before the night is over, Abram’s belief or faith will be tested! In fact, his faith will continue to be tested, tried, and proven for the rest of his life! Let's continue the story in verses 7-11:
7 And he said to him, I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess. 8 But he said, O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it? 9 He said to him, Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
Abram, following in the footsteps of his patriarchs and as a symbol of his covenant with God, made a sacrifice. It is interesting to note that Abel, Noah, and now Abram all used sacrifice to thank, pay homage to, and covenant with God. It seems like every major occurrence or display of God’s power and mercy is sealed with sacrifice. But will Abram be able to uphold his end of the covenant? Will he still believe if times get hard? Let’s look at verses 12-16:
12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.
How would you respond to this vision? God has promised you a land and an heir, called you righteous for believing in Him, but then you find out that your descendants will not be free. They will be forced to live in a strange land, work as servants, and be afflicted for 400 years. This doesn’t sound like the story line for a righteous man. God said that his seed would be a great nation and that he would be a blessing to all nations. How can you have a great nation filled with servants and slaves? Surely, if this were the outcome for a righteous man, what would compel anyone to desire the title of righteous? Not to mention that any ordinary man would stumble and lose faith after hearing this kind of news. But not Abram! God had already brought him too far and he wasn’t about to give up. He isn’t called the Father of Faith for no reason. Let's finish the story by reading verses 17-21:
17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking re pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.
In spite of all that will transpire, God reassured Abram that He is in control. Abram’s faith will not be forgotten and the promise will be fulfilled.
When Adil and the other Turkish soldiers went to war, they believed in what they were fighting for. They believed that the future of Turkey depended on their willingness to die. As brave as they were and as indebted as we are to them, Abram shows us a belief that we not only want to die with, but live with! A complete trust and belief in God. Adil’s belief changed a country, but Abram’s changed the world. Adil’s changed the way he thought of himself, but Abram’s changed the way God thought of him.
What is your belief changing?
Discussion Questions
Adil was a 15-year-old boy from a poor village in the eastern part of Turkey. He was the son of a shepherd and didn’t even know how to read or write. But he was very well respected in the village for his honesty and humbleness.
Life was very simple for Adil. Every day he woke up early, milked the family cow and ate breakfast. After eating, he would take the sheep out into the fields. During the dry season, he had to walk long distances just to find food for them. Sometimes he even had to sleep outside under the stars. Shepherding can be very lonely work, but Adil had friends who would sometimes walk with him and it helped pass the time. When his friends weren’t around, it was their previous conversations and his own thoughts that kept him company. Because Adil wasn’t a particularly brave boy, some of those nights seemed like they would last forever and the sounds of insects and howling wolves kept him awake all night. If it weren’t for the light of the stars, he might not have been able to bear the loneliness.
It was 1914 and as the hot days of summer began to cool and fall set in, Adil began making preparations for a long winter. There were always rumors in this part of the country because it was far removed from the royal courts of Istanbul and real news just never travelled that far. But lately the rumors had been growing more frequent and they weren’t all coming from the west.
“The empire is in trouble. The Sultan has lost his grip on the government. The war isn’t being fought in other countries anymore and if we don’t act fast, we may lose the very soil that we live on. They say Turkey is a “sick man”.”
Although the rumors were disturbing, Adil didn’t think that the Ottoman Empire would ever collapse much less that his life would change. In fact, it probably hadn’t changed much since the Turks originally came here.
“Why would anyone be worried about or interested in our area? There is nothing here, just a few dilapidated buildings. In fact, there are more sheep than people.” He thought to himself.
But it wasn’t long before his doubts would turn to worry. The first sign that things weren’t right was when two families stumbled into town. All they had was loaded into a donkey cart and they looked tired and hungry. They said that their village had been raided and that they ed for their lives. Although they didn’t provide any details, it was obvious that they had witnessed something terrible and it wasn’t long before more families and individuals passed through the village.
These families rarely stayed long and didn’t ask for much, but their visits had a toll on the village. The germs and illnesses they brought from war-ravaged areas began to infect the residents. First, Adil’s mother became ill and after fighting to hold on to her very life, she passed away. Adil’s father was heart broken but he knew that he had to stay strong for his son. Unfortunately, Adil’s father also got sick and without the care of a doctor or modern medicines his time was cut short. Knowing that he had very little time left, he called Adil to his bedside.
“Son, you have already lost your mother and my time on this earth is running out. I have taught you everything that I know. From now on, you will no longer be considered a boy. They say you are never a man until your parents die, and short of a miracle, that time has come.”
“Father, please don’t talk like this. I can’t make it on my own. I am just a boy and all I have is you. What will I do?”
“Son, there comes a time in every person’s life when they must grow up. You are the son of a shepherd and you know your trade well. But I want you to do something else. I didn’t tell you this before because I didn’t want you to worry. But, the rumors about our great empire are true. The war is pressing upon our borders and there is a great need for brave young men to fight. I want you to join the fight and bring honor to our family and people. You are brave and just as you faced those lonely nights in the mountains and hills, you can also face this. I believe in you son!”
“Father, if only I had your belief. As much as my heart wants to, in my mind I know it isn’t true. Most of those nights I sat trembling and waiting for the sun to rise. The thoughts of wolves and wild animals tearing me to pieces kept me awake. I am not brave father. I am a coward. I couldn’t even sleep in peace.”
“Adil, you are brave and never forget it. When the fear closes in on you, believe this simple truth and it shall set you free from fear.”
As his father said these final words, his breathing began to fade. Adil squeezed his father’s hand tighter in the hope that he could hold onto him longer. But with the words, “You are brave, you are brave,” hanging on his lips, he died. Adil fell to the floor and sobbed.
As hard as it was for Adil, he honored his father’s wishes and left his village. He didn’t know where to go, so he started travelling west until he found himself outside of Istanbul. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He had never seen a place like this before. But he had no time for sightseeing. He needed to enlist in the army. After signing up, he was outfitted with meager supplies, a weapon, and a uniform. He was placed in a division and given some training.
Adil’s division was moved to Canakkale and rumors of an invasion forced them to dig trenches and make preparations. From the outside, Adil appeared brave and strong. But on the inside he still felt like a scared little boy. However, when he realized that the other soldiers, both young and old, were also scared, it made him feel better. They were all lonely and had little or no contact with their families. The nights were cold and the rags that they called clothes barely kept them warm. But as every day passed, Adil began to believe his father’s words. He had left his village, travelled farther than anyone he knew, joined the army, and was now preparing to fight an enemy that came from a place he had never even heard of.
Adil prayed that an attack wouldn’t happen, but the bombardment shattered his hopes. He was never close enough to the shore to see the enemies approach. But it was only a matter of time before they would come face to face. There was almost no ammunition, food was scarce, and Adil didn’t want to die. As he took his place at the lip of the trench and held his unloaded rifle, the fear became overwhelming. As the order to charge was given and he crawled out of the trench, his father’s words flashed across his mind. He leapt from the trench and began to run. Men were falling all around him and before he made it to the next trench he felt a burning sensation in his stomach. He was lying on his back, looking at the sky, and repeating the words “I am brave, I am brave, I am brave.” He had been telling himself those words since his father’s death and he died believing them. Adil’s belief in what his father said not only changed the way he viewed himself, but the momentum of the war. Belief is a powerful thing!
Prophet Abram was like Adil in many ways. He was a shepherd from the east of Turkey who left his homeland. He felt the pains of death that separated him from his father and travelled long distances to fulfill a special task. But what made Abram so unique was his belief. And God, who knows everything and from whom nothing goes unseen, not only recognized his belief; he rewarded him for it. Let's start reading the story in Genesis chapter 15 verses 1-3:
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall
be very great. 2 But Abram said, O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.
The Bible tells us that after these things: Abram’s call, traveling to Egypt, rescuing Lot, and honoring Melchizedek; God appeared to Abram in a vision and promised him a great reward. Abram’s response was simple, “What shall you give me?” We know from previous stories that Abram had a beautiful wife, bravery, fortune, and the blessings of God. This would be enough to satisfy just about every man on the planet. But there was one thing he didn’t have, an heir. He had lived his whole life without knowing the pride, privilege, and joy of holding his own child. In his old age, and outside of a miracle, he knew that his chance was gone. But God had a plan! Let’s look at what happened in verses 4 and 5:
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir. 5 And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be.
Have you ever sat outside in the dark and looked up at the stars? During the darkest nights, away from the city lights, an innumerable amount of specks bring light to a dark world and create shapes in a shapeless horizon. I am sure all of us at some point in our lives have stood in wonder gazing into the night sky or maybe even tried to count those stars like Abram. In Abram’s time, the lack of smog, city lights, and air pollution rendered the sky even cleaner than the one we see today. In fact, the sky of Abram’s time was probably not much different than Adil’s. Knowing how hard it is for us to count the stars in our day, imagine what it was like for Abram when he was standing in the desert looking up at the clear night sky. But it wasn’t the number of the stars that was impressive. Rather it was the fact that God was promising Abram an heir and offspring as vast as the stars. God had already told this to Abram likening his offspring to the dust of the earth, but as time went on and Abram grew older, God wanted to remind Abram that he had not forgotten him. Perhaps for some of us, the idea of that many offspring makes us quiver. But for Abram, who had no children and in a time when children were of great value, the prospect of being a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather must have been exciting; especially at the age of 85 and after waiting his whole life. But what was to happen next was even more exciting than having a child because it has eternal implications. Let’s read verse 6:
6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Let’s pause here for a moment and think about this. God doesn’t say, "Abram you have been very good and now you will be called righteous;" nor "Abram I am pleased with your sacrifices and so I am declaring you righteous." No, the Bible simply says that Abram believed and God counted it to him as righteousness. For many of us, this may be hard to understand. How can God consider someone righteous simply because they believe Him? Well, we will need to wait for the answer to that question because it isn't written here, but as we study through the Bible it will become clearer. For now, the most important point is that the simple act of believing God is what made Abram to be considered righteous! People sometimes forget that the beginning of every major change in our personal lives or the whole world starts with an idea or belief. For Adil it was the belief that he really was brave and after convincing himself, he became known as a hero. But Abram's belief was not in himself or in his own abilities, rather it was that God would keep His word. And Abram's righteousness was not the result of convincing himself. On the contrary, it was the result of God declaring him to be righteous.
But this lesson doesn't just apply to Abram. The most exciting aspect of this story is that God places before us the reality that a person can obtain something greater than bravery, fame, or even prestige. That if we simply believe Him, we too can be righteous. What an amazing and life altering truth!
Abram listened to what God said, recognized that in human terms what He was proposing was impossible, and believed that God could fulfill that which he claimed. It was that simple and it is from this story that Abram became known as the Father of Faith. But if this is true, that is that belief leads to righteousness, would not the reverse also be true? If you disbelieve what God is telling you, it can make you unrighteous. Furthermore, how do you know what God is telling you; is there a way to judge between what is coming from God and Satan? Of course and as we journey through the Bible, God’s message will become clearer and clearer. But, let’s get back to the story because it doesn’t end there and before the night is over, Abram’s belief or faith will be tested! In fact, his faith will continue to be tested, tried, and proven for the rest of his life! Let's continue the story in verses 7-11:
7 And he said to him, I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess. 8 But he said, O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it? 9 He said to him, Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
Abram, following in the footsteps of his patriarchs and as a symbol of his covenant with God, made a sacrifice. It is interesting to note that Abel, Noah, and now Abram all used sacrifice to thank, pay homage to, and covenant with God. It seems like every major occurrence or display of God’s power and mercy is sealed with sacrifice. But will Abram be able to uphold his end of the covenant? Will he still believe if times get hard? Let’s look at verses 12-16:
12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.
How would you respond to this vision? God has promised you a land and an heir, called you righteous for believing in Him, but then you find out that your descendants will not be free. They will be forced to live in a strange land, work as servants, and be afflicted for 400 years. This doesn’t sound like the story line for a righteous man. God said that his seed would be a great nation and that he would be a blessing to all nations. How can you have a great nation filled with servants and slaves? Surely, if this were the outcome for a righteous man, what would compel anyone to desire the title of righteous? Not to mention that any ordinary man would stumble and lose faith after hearing this kind of news. But not Abram! God had already brought him too far and he wasn’t about to give up. He isn’t called the Father of Faith for no reason. Let's finish the story by reading verses 17-21:
17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking re pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.
In spite of all that will transpire, God reassured Abram that He is in control. Abram’s faith will not be forgotten and the promise will be fulfilled.
When Adil and the other Turkish soldiers went to war, they believed in what they were fighting for. They believed that the future of Turkey depended on their willingness to die. As brave as they were and as indebted as we are to them, Abram shows us a belief that we not only want to die with, but live with! A complete trust and belief in God. Adil’s belief changed a country, but Abram’s changed the world. Adil’s changed the way he thought of himself, but Abram’s changed the way God thought of him.
What is your belief changing?
Discussion Questions
- How does it make you feel to have a teacher, parent, or em- ployee trust you to accomplish something?
- Why did Abraham believe God? Why do you believe God?
- Not including what others have taught you, what do you think is the most important thing to believe about God?
- How does believing in God change the way you live, eat, and find entertainment?