Our God’s got style! He has been showing His creativeness and amazing power throughout history by bending the laws of nature to His every whim. Abraham found that out, as Paul illustrates in Romans 4, and was blessed through his response.

For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” -Romans 4:3

This passage is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. Abraham’s belief comes on the heels of an amazing promise. God told an old, childless Abraham that he would have as many descendants as the stars in the sky. Not only was the promise unfathomable, but the waiting game was not yet over. However, Abraham continued to believe God was able to do what He had promised. Thus, he obeyed God who said, “Walk before Me and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1).

Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. -Romans 4:19-21

Abraham was not a misguided fool. He knew how old he was. He knew how old Sarah was. He knew they were well-past childbearing years. More importantly though he knew who God was and believed God was able to work around every obstacle. God used promises like this one as a shadow of His immense ability to solve mankind’s issues. The most insurmountable issue being sin.

Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

-Romans 4:23-5:2

God’s ultimate plan was to deal with sin. Only He had the power to do so. Mankind had sold itself, and the price for redemption was too steep for people to pay. He sent Jesus to live a sinless life, be falsely convicted of crimes and executed, and finally to be raised from the dead to break the chains of sin. God did this to justify us, to restore peace, and to extend grace to those who would believe and obey.

The promise of countless children to Abraham came after a long period of obedience to God. Abraham was told to leave his home and family to travel to an unknown destination. I am sure Abraham had questions and did not fully understand. He obeyed anyway and was blessed for it. God also tells us what to do to obtain the “introduction by faith into grace.” We may have questions. We may not fully understand. The question that remains is, “Will we obey?”