"...that he might be the father of all them that believe," ROM 4:11.

We need to understand the history of Abraham's faith to distinguish true imputed faith from human reasoning. "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that [faith] was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead," ROM 4:23-24.

Satan plays tricks with us when he sifts us as he did Peter in his sieve. There is a clear distinction between human reasoning, unbelief and faith. Abraham, "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God," ROM 4:19-20. Abraham never once questioned that Christ was his salvation, nor God's promise that the Messiah would descend from his seed.

Ten years after this promise, Abram and his wife miserably fell into presumption through human reasoning. "And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: [They tried to help God fulfill His promise because it was becoming humanly impossible for Sarai to have children, she said to Abram] I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai," GEN 16:2.

Oh, beloved, what a lesson there is to learn from the faith of Abraham! Our text says Abraham was "...the father of all them that believe." Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith," but what does it say in GEN 17:15-19? "And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."

Human reasoning reached its climax at this point! "Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, [Beloved, this was the Lord speaking to Abraham! Abraham 'laughed' and argued with the Lord] and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?" Do you see? Human reasoning could not allow that Sarai could have a son. They were both past the time of life.

Abraham did not question that the Messiah would come forth from his bowels, he took care of that also with human reasoning. "And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!" Abraham was now pleading with the Lord to accept Ishmael, and that the Messiah would now come through Ishmael. Abraham reasoned that since Sarah was ninety, and he was a hundred years old it was impossible for Sarah to bear. Abraham's human reasoning could not allow the ways of the Lord.

The Lord's ways shall stand, and Abraham's human reasoning failed as miserably as Peter's. Ishmael was not the heir. The promised Seed did not come through Ishmael, "...for in Isaac shall thy seed be called," GEN 21:12. Abraham's faith, i.e., his human reasoning would have destroyed the whole plan of salvation, but the imputed faith of Christ will never fail. "...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me," GAL 2:20. Amen.