The Power and Growth of Faith
A frequent topic of conversation in our culture revolves around how to live a life of stability, courage, and power. This secular question is the same as the religious question about how to live a life of faith. In the Bible, the prime example of living by faith is the Old Testament patriarch, Abraham. The Book of Genesis details Abraham’s life in chapters 12-25. A more concise discussion of Abraham is found in Hebrews 11:8-10>> ”By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
It is interesting to note that whenever God spoke to Abraham, the conversation was followed by a time of challenge or crisis. The first time God spoke to Abraham was when God called him to leave the land of his people. Understand, Abe’s family had been rooted in that area for generations. Yet, God told Abraham to leave. When Abraham asked where God was leading him, God told him that He would give more details later. Abraham was called to operate by faith. The next series of conversations centered around Abraham’s offspring. God repeatedly told Abe that his lineage would be plentiful, that his descendants would be like the stars in the sky. They would be too numerous to count. These future generations would also possess the land that Abraham was passing through. Whenever Abraham asked for more details, God said, “Trust me.” Again, Abraham was called to operate by faith. After years of following the leading of God, Abraham is given another promise about having a son. In this discussion, Abraham moaned that he had been waiting a long time and that he was growing quite old. He and his wife were in their 90s. Again, God called Abraham to have faith, to trust that God had things under control. Well, you guessed it (or perhaps you have read the book of Genesis) - God delivers the long-awaited son. Just when things start making sense and going well, God steps in and delivers another message to Abraham. Genesis 22:1-2 says, "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.'” Wow, this had to be a real head scratcher. Here again, Abraham obeyed and showed faith in God.
Let me summarize things. The story of Abraham’s life goes this way: God said to get out of the land that Abraham had previously called home. When Abraham asked where, God said, “I’ll tell you later, just get out.” When God promised the possession of the land, Abraham asked when it would happen. God said, “I’ll tell you later, just wander around in tents.” When God told Abraham that he would have a son, Abe asked how. God again commanded Abraham to trust Him. When God said, “Slay your son,” Abraham had to be wondering why. God again called Abraham to trust Him. Remember that Genesis 12-25 covers many years. In Abraham’s journey of life and faith, there were successes and setbacks. There were shining examples of faith and head-scratching times of failure.
The narrative of Abraham’s life is a story we can all sympathize with. Perhaps we have not been in the limelight like Abraham, but we can relate to the difficulties and uncertainties of life. Life is filled with difficult circumstances, unbelievable tragedies, and storms that threaten to blow us away. If you can’t relate to these things, you haven’t lived long enough yet. Abraham lived a big life, a life that has captured the attention of all. How did Abraham traverse these uncertainties and dangers? It was done by having faith in God. Join me next week as we dig a little deeper into understanding what living by faith means. Keep looking up!