Why does the Bible show the failures of people like Abraham?
The Bible shows failures of people like Abraham to demonstrate they were not superhuman or sinless but real people who sometimes failed. This prevents believers from feeling like miserable failures themselves, showing God uses imperfect people who are obedient only up to a point.
Les explains that this is the beauty of Scripture. Abraham was a man of faith who took God at His Word, did not ask questions, and simply followed. Yet he was not totally obedient; he took his father and nephew Lot, and God could not let that continue for long. Les teaches that if God made these men superhuman, sinless, and always obedient, then we would feel like miserable failures. But these people failed and were not always right on the mark, showing that God uses imperfect people.