Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, . . . Romans 4:18
God told Abraham clearly that he will be the father of many nations. God said, “I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come to you.” (Genesis 17:6) God changed his name from Abram, which means “exalted father”, which is pretty good already, to Abraham, meaning “father of many”, which is even better.
I wonder what Abraham thought when he heard that promise from God. He probably imagined claiming Canaan as his nation, since he was living there, and most likely his descendents will take over the land. Since God said “nations“, plural, maybe his great-grandkids will expand to the north and south and own land all around the Mediterranean. I wonder if it ever crossed Abraham’s mind that God meant he would be the father of all the nations of the world.
Those of us who by faith believe in God’s promised Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ, call Abraham our father. We are considered his offspring; he is the father of us all. (Romans 4:16) God’s promise to Abraham included being father to all the nations, not by blood, but by faith.
Did Abraham think that his actions in faith would put him on the map and become a household name? Did he think he would be such a significant personality to believers for so many generations, and to many more future generations to come?
He probably had no idea the scope God had in mind! He just acted in obedience in his immediate circumstances, simply doing what God told him to do. I don’t think he was thinking, “People in the 20th century are going to read about what I did here, so I better do the right thing.”
I wonder what could result from my obedience to God. Abraham, of course, was one of kind. Our choices of obedience to God can still have great effects on people around us, and even to future generations. We don’t know that, do we? We don’t know what God has in mind, and how he will use us. The thought that He could possibly use my simple actions of faith for future generations motivates to please God in everything I do.
We are simply asked to choose to obey him in whatever situation. And God will use it in a way beyond our imagination.