Tuesday: Exemplar of Faith
Though hardly perfect, Abraham was a man of God, and time and again in the Bible, even in the New Testament, he is used as an example of faithfulness and of what it means to be saved by faith (see Gen. 15:6, Gal. 3:6).
Read Hebrews 11:8-19. What does it tell us about Abraham and his faith that is so important for anyone who wants to be a missionary for God in whatever capacity possible?
The Lord wanted to use Abraham, but the first thing He had to do was get him to leave his past behind. The lesson there should be obvious to any of us, especially those of us who have pasts not in harmony with the will and law of God, which actually includes us all.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing from GoodSalt.com
Amazing, too, was the fact that though Abraham left, he did not know where he was going
(Heb. 11:8 NIV). Though most missionaries know where they are going, at least in a geographical sense, in another sense when any of us takes a giant leap of faith and give our hearts totally to God, we really don’t know (at least in the short run) where we will wind up (though in the long run, we have absolute assurance). If we did know, it wouldn’t require that much faith; hence, not knowing is prerequisite for truly being able to live by faith.
Another crucial point here is that Abraham was looking to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God
(Heb. 11:10 NIV). Abraham kept the big picture in mind; he knew that whatever he faced here, whatever toils and struggles, it would all be worth it in the end.
He knew, too, that he wasn’t just a stranger in the promised land
but that he was one of many strangers and pilgrims on the earth
(Heb. 11:13, NKJV).This world, and our lives in it, as precious as they appear to us now (it’s all we have now), is not the whole story, not by a long shot.
And, of course, the greatest example of faith in the Old Testament was what Abraham was willing to do to his son on Mount Moriah at the command of God.
In what ways have you experienced what it means to step out in faith? What hardships have you faced? What joys have you experienced? Knowing what you know now, what might you have done differently?
(36)
My journey is like all of us we wished we would not have intervened with God's own time on his promise to us like Sarah did to Abraham and many more regrets that we would have done it otherwise from hindsight but that is the beauty of Freewill for it helps us to learn from our past and past decisions mistake out of apprehension and impatient, but we learn to trust God more later in other important aspects of life and walk with him. He improvises and that is the beauty of our God and Heavenly Father only possible through Christ, Praise God.
The “greatest example of faith in the Old Testament,” Abraham’s willingness to take the life of his only promised son is probably not something most readily relate to. It is easier to conceive of Abraham taking his own life. Still, generally understood, Abraham’s act foreshadowed the Heavenly Father’s act with His Son.
However the Second Member of the Godhead is not the biological or chronological Son of the Father (Micah 5:2), so in what way is Christ the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16)? By some mysterious arrangement in the Godhead beyond human comprehension the Son had subjected Himself to the first member of the Godhead such as to answer to Him as to a Father (1 Corinthians 15:27, 28).
By virtue of the Father’s position/function He would ultimately have to make the final call in the plan of salvation. Isaac had to first be willing or Abraham would not have been able to go through with the plan (the symbol or type).
Likewise the Son needed to volunteer and consent first, but the Father would make the final call (1 John 4:14) and strike the fatal blow. God had to unleash His wrath against sin on His Son whom He loved more than Abraham could love his own son (Colossians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Abraham anticipated a resurrection (Hebrews 11:17-19). God had one planned for His Son (John 10:18). It was God the Father’s act that was the greatest act of faith, and this before the Old Testament; for the decision was made before then, along with whatever pain it would bring to the heart of the Father (1 Peter 1:19-21).
The Father was not shielded from Christ’s suffering. Jesus died, but the Father being one with the Son felt as much pain and would easily have traded places (John 10:30, 36) . Here is an example that makes anything we call faith pale.
What differently? Prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit to remain faithful to God's Word.
What was it that God showed Father Abe' that He did not showed him? Seeing he did not really got the land flowing with milk and honey! Please help me understand this.
Bro Ronald, God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations - you and I are Abraham's seed. Abraham did not get to the land of milk and honey as far as the human mind can conceive, but we know that Abraham and God communed with each other and Abraham was considered a Friend of God (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). How awesome would it be if God would call us Friend... Finally Abraham was faithful, obedient, loyal and dedicated to God simply because he trusted and believed in the relationship he had with God. Hope this helps some.... God bless!
Read Hebrews 11:8-19. What does it tell us about Abraham and his faith that is so important for anyone who wants to be a missionary for God in whatever capacity possible?
Regardless of what God asked of Abraham, he faithfully obeyed because Abraham believed God unconditionally. Imagine if you will, God coming to you in a dream and saying, you need to leave your home, your husband/wife, your children and go to Nepal to work as a missionary for two years. What would you do? Would you simply obey or will you question the will of God? Or image God telling you that you will be the father/mother of a great nation and then God asks you to take the life of the child He promised to you and your wife/husband. Most of us would probably think twice about taking the life of our child, but Abraham did not because he trusted God and knew that God’s words were grounded in good and not in evil. So if God said ‘take the life of your daughter’ you do what the Lord says without question. God keeps asking us to stand up and be counted.
Should we speak out about the sins that society tries to saddle us with in the name of political correctness? Should we speak out against the Nadab and Abihu’s at all costs? I say yes we should stand up for right and truth, like Daniel and the three Hebrew boys. God keeps calling us to leave our past behind and to move forward, but too often we do not believe that God would use us because our past may be less than lily-white. And like those who continue to use smear tactics to keep us shackled to a past long forgotten, we cower under the weight of scrutiny, forgetting that God is the yardstick by which we should measure ourselves. I have found that God is no respecter of persons; He does not think as humans do and He does not hold us hostage to our past or our present. Instead, God is always hard at work to secure our future. What a mighty God we serve. May we continue to look away from those things that are displeasing to Christ and toward a soon coming Saviour. Father help me to be this strong a believer in you and your promises. Help me to see myself through your eyes only.
Sister Lindsey, The Holy Spirit has spoken to you!!
Christ followers are here to be good example towards our fellow friends and we can't do that by ourselves. Paul says I will do all from the one who gave me strength, Philippians 4 v13. Each and every time, let the will of God us Phil 2:13