January 20 - The Proof of Faith
Scripture
- Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be called." He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead; from which he also received him back as a type.
Observation
The proof of Abraham's faith was his willingness to give back to God everything he had, including the son of promise, whom he had miraculously received because of his faith. After all the waiting and wondering, the son had been given by God. Then, before the son was grown, God asked for him back, and Abraham obeyed. Abraham knew that the covenant, which could only be fulfilled through Isaac, was unconditional. He knew, therefore, that God would do whatever was necessary, including raising Isaac from the dead, to keep His covenant. He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead. The thought of sacrificing Isaac must have grieved Abraham terribly, but he knew that he would have his son back. He knew that God would not, in fact could not, take his son away permanently, or else He would have to go back on His own word, which is impossible.
If Noah illustrates the duration of faith, Abraham shows the depth of faith. In tremendous, monumental faith Abraham brought Isaac to the top of Mt. Moriah and prepared to offer him to God. He believed in resurrection from the dead even before God revealed the doctrine. He had to believe in resurrection, because, if God allowed him to carry out the command to sacrifice Isaac, resurrection was the only way God could keep His promise.
As it turned out, because he did not actually die, he was offered but he was not slain. God provided a substitute. It was the fact that Abraham offered up Isaac that proved his faith. The final standard of faith, its real proof, is willingness to sacrifice.
- "If anyone wishes to come after Me," Jesus commands, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24).
- "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Rom. 12:1).
When John Bunyan was in jail for preaching the gospel, he was deeply concerned about his family. He was particularly grieved about his little blind daughter, for whom he had a special love. He wrote, "I saw in this condition I was a man who was pulling down his house upon the head of his wife and children. Yet, thought I, I must do it; I must do it. The dearest idol I have known, what err that idol be, help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee."
The patriarchs, therefore, held to the five great standards of faith:
- • its pilgrimage, in separation from the world;
- • its patience, in waiting for God to work;
- • its power, in doing the impossible;
- • its positiveness, in focusing on God's eternal promise; and
- • its proof, in obedient sacrifice.
Understanding
What is God saying to me?
God is calling me to separate from the world by choosing to live by His ways and priorities – denying worldly pursuits for heavenly pursuits.
Having made that decision, it is easy for me to get impatient with God – after all I abandoned the world for Him so He better deliver – and I must come to grips with the fact that my timing is not His timing and my thoughts are not His thoughts.
Yet in the waiting I am choosing to believe in His promises to me and His ability to perform whatever He says He will, even if everything around me leads me to believe that it is an impossibility. And because I believe I live as though the promise is a reality.
Life Application
What will I do about it?
Psalm 130:1-8 (NIV) 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.